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Events in the Mohawk Valley
Not all the
events of consequence can be given now, but it is hoped that a
clear picture of life in the valley in the early and strenuous
days may be given the reader. We shall interest ourselves
chiefly with that part of the valley extending from Schenectady
on the east to Rome on the west. It was at these two points and
in the territory between them that the most important events in
the history of the valley occurred. For a long time Schenectady
was the extreme frontier post to the west and so was constantly
exposed to attacks by the French and the Canadian Indians. Until
1665 Schenectady was a part of Albany, and it remained a part of
Albany County till 1809.
One of the most prominent of the
early inhabitants of Schenectady was Arendt Van Curler, or as he
is more frequently called. Corlear. He visited the site of
Schenectady as early as 1642, though the place was not settled
until 1662.
Upon the assignment of lots at the
organization of the village the one occupied by Corlear was
where the Mohawk club house now stands.
Van Corlear was very popular with the
Mohawks. No man with the possible exception of Peter Schuyler
and Sir William Johnson, ever enjoyed the confidence of the
Indians to the extent that Corlear did. This is evidenced by the
fact that the Mohawks always called the governor of the colony "Corlear."
Corlear was the acknowledged leader
of the Schenectady settlement. He came from Holland in 1630 to
superintend the Van Rensselaer manor and served in that capacity
till 1646. During a portion of this time he was the secretary of
the colony. He married in 1643 and settled on the "Flatts" above
Albany, where he lived till he joined with others in settling
Schenectady.
While Van Corlear was living at the "Flatts"
he learned of the captivity of Father Jogues, and visited the
Mohawk country to secure his release, but without success. Later
he was instrumental in aiding Jogues to escape.
On his return from this mission ir.to
the Mohawk country. Van Corlear wrote to his employer, Kiliaen
Van Rensselaer, that "half a day's journey from the Colonic, on
the Mohawk River, there lies the most beautiful land that the
eye of man ever beheld." With this feeling toward the Mohawk
valley it is not strange that he was among the first settlers
who went into that country, though it was the extreme frontier
post of the colony and certain for many years to be exposed to
all the dangers of frontier life. It has been learned through a
diary kept by Van Corlear, which was discovered and published a
few years since, that he visited the Mohawk valley as early as
1634. In this diary Van Corlear says that he and two other white
men with five Indian guides left Fort Orange (Albany) on the
11th of December, 1634. The following is an extract from the
diary:
"Dec. 13. In the morning we went
together to the Castle over the ice that had frozen during the
night in the kil (river) and, after going half a mile (a Dutch
mile is about three English miles) we arrived at their first
Castle, which is built on a high mountain. There stood
thirty-six houses, in row, like streets, so that we could pass
nicely. The houses are made and covered with the bark of trees,
and mostly are flat at the top. Some are a hundred, ninety, or
eighty paces long, and twenty-two and twenty-three feet high.
There were some inside doors of hewn boards, furnished with iron
hinges. In some houses we saw different kinds of iron chains,
harrow irons, iron hoops, nails, all probably stolen somewhere.
Most of the people were out hunting deer and bear. The houses
were full of corn that they lay in store, and we saw maize; yes,
in some of the houses more than three hundred bushels."
The Marie
House
Van Corlear was drowned in Lake
Champlain in the year 1667 while on his way to Montreal with a
party of Mohawks. For many years after this event the Five
Nations spoke of that body of water as Cortear's Lake.
The story of the massacre at
Schenectady has been told in the proceeding pages. Until 1775
Albany County extended toward the west without any well-defined
boundaries. During the year 1775 Tryon County was organized. It
included all the territory of the province west of Albany. It
was divided into four districts each with a large territory
sparsely settled. The district farthest to the east was called
Mohawk. It included Johnstown, and was completely dominated by
the Johnsons. The territory west of the Mohawk district, on the
south side of the river, as far west as Little Falls, was known
as the Canajoharie district; and the corresponding territory
north of the Mohawk constituted the Palatine district; all the
territory on both sides of the river, west of the Canajoharie
and the Palatine districts formed the German Flatts and
Kingsland district.
If we begin at Schenectady and pass
westward till we reach Rome, considering the important events of
each locality as we reach it, a clearer picture will be
presented than if we studied the same events in the order in
which they occurred. A study of the map of the Mohawk valley
will be found to be very helpful.
Some seven miles west from
Schenectady, and about a mile west of Rotterdam, is an old house
built of stone laid closely together without mortar. It is on a
high bluff commanding a fine view. It is of interest chiefly
because it is probably the oldest house in the valley, having
been built in 1780 or a little earlier. Its original owner was
Jan Mabie, and the place is now owned by his descendants, though
not occupied by them.
The
Beukendaal
Fight
What was
known as the "Beukendaal Massacre" took place about midway
between Schenectady and Hoffman's Ferry, about three miles from
the former place. It was in no sense a massacre, but was a very
bloody fight. It is of no historical importance outside the
immediate locality, but is typical of many of the encounters
that took place on the frontier, and for that reason may well be
described. Beukendaal is the Dutch word for beechdale, and
suggests the character of the country where the fight occurred.
In July,
1747, Daniel Toll, accompanied by a Negro servant and a
companion named Dirck Van Vorst went from Schenectady to
Beukendaal in search of some stray horses. While looking for
them they heard what they thought was horses stamping. Going in
the direction of the sound they entered an open space, where a
party of Indians were playing quoits, making on the clayey
ground the noise Toll and his companions mistook for the
stamping of horses. They discovered their mistake too late. Toll
was killed and Van Vorst captured, but the Negro escaped and
carried the news to Schenectady. About the same time Adrian Van
Slyck, who was on his farm which lay on the river road toward
Amsterdam, about a mile from Scotia, learned of the presence of
the Indians and sent for help. Four parties, numbering in all
about sixty men, responded to the calls. They did not come
together, but in parties separated by about an hour's time. The
parties were made up in the main of young men who were without
experience or discipline, and did not even have a leader. It was
the old, old story of zeal without prudence, which was
exemplified so many times on the frontier.
The first
party to arrive saw, as they thought, Mr. Toll sitting with his
back to a fence and in front of him a crow, which would fly
short distances, but not leave the immediate vicinity of Toll.
This aroused the curiosity of the men and they hastened to
investigate, and were met by a storm of bullets from the hidden
Indians, who had planned what proved to be a successful
ambuscade. Many of the whites were killed, some taken prisoners,
but a portion succeeded in escaping and reaching a deserted
house belonging to a Mr. DeGraaf. On their retreat they were met
by another party sent out to rescue Toll and his companion. The
two forces fought desperately with the Indians. It was a hand to
hand fight. They finally reached the house, entered it and
barricaded the doors and windows. A little later the Schenectady
militia appeared and the Ferry. It is about forty rods from the
Central Railroad on the right hand side as one goes to the west.
A little to the east of the Toll mansion, but not in sight from
the railroad, is the DeGraaf house, one of the oldest in the
valley.
Fort
Hunter
From its
position at the juncture of the Schoharie Creek and the Mohawk,
Fort Hunter was a place of considerable importance. The Mohawk
Indians had a castle there before the erection of Fort Hunter.
Their castle was destroyed by the French and the Canadian
Indians in 1689 and again in 1693. In 1709 Peter Schuyler
accompanied several of the Indian kings, so called, to London.
Queen Anne took a great interest in them and promised to provide
them with a chapel, a school, and a fort. The fort was erected
at the junction of the Schoharie Creek and the Mohawk River
south of the Mohawk, and on the east bank of the Schoharie. It
was named Hunter in honor of the governor of the colony. The
fort was one hundred and fifty feet square, with a blockhouse at
each corner large enough to accommodate twenty men.
Surrounded by
the palisades of the fort was Queen Anne's Chapel. It was built
of limestone, was twenty-four feet square, and had a belfry and
a bell. The chapel w-as furnished by Queen Anne. It had an
organ, the first one ever seen west of Albany, preceding the one
at Johnstown by more than fifty years. The Queen furnished a
communion tablecloth, damask napkins, carpet for communion
table, altar cloth, Holland surplice, cushion for desk, large
Bible, prayer books, book of homilies, silver salver, flagons
and chalice, four paintings of Her Majesty's arms on canvas,
twelve large octavo Bibles, two painted tables containing the
Lord's Prayer, Creed and Ten Commandments, and a candelabrum
with nine sockets.
At Fort
Hunter the Indians built a schoolhouse twelve feet wide and
thirty feet long". The Rev. Mr. Andrews had charge of this
Indians withdrew. In the fight twenty of the whites were killed,
thirteen, or fourteen taken prisoners, and a number wounded.
The Toll
mansion and the DeGraaf house are still standing. The Toll
mansion is about half way between Schenectady and Hoffman's
school and had twenty children in attendance. When the Indians
were all at home there were sometimes as many as one hundred and
fifty attendants at church, thirty-eight of whom were
communicants. The communion set given by Queen Anne was
entrusted to the care of Brant and has since been in charge of
his descendants.
During the
Revolution the Mohawks buried it and at the close of the war
they recovered it and took it to their new home in Canada. Fort
Hunter was a place of considerable importance during the Indian
raids of 1778-80.
Auriesville
A little to
the west of Fort Hunter, on the south bank of the Mohawk, is the
little hamlet of Auriesville. It was here or near here that
Father Jogues and his associate Goupil were so brutally
murdered. The society of which Father Jogues was a member has
erected at Auriesville a shrine in honor of his memory. It was
at or near Auriesville that a portion of the Mohawks made their
home after the destruction of their castle at Fort Hunter.
Tribes
Hill
A little to
the north of Fort Hunter is Tribes Hill, not of great note
historically, yet frequently referred to in the history of the
valley. Some of the men who were active in public affairs made
their home there. It was the birthplace of Hendrick Hanson, the
first white child born in the Mohawk valley, west of Schenectady
Hanson's father, Nicholas Hanson, emigrated from Albany to
Tribes Hill about 1725. John Johnson in his raid through the
valley in 1780 plundered Tribes Hill as he did other places.
The
Butler House
Not far from
Tribes Hill is Switzer Hill, where is still standing the old
house which was the home of the Butlers. It is about thirty rods
south of the junction of the Tribes Hill road with that leading
from Fonda to Johnstown. The house was built by Walter Butler,
Sr., in 1743. Here lived in succession Captain Walter Butler,
Sr. his son, Colonel John Butler, and his grandson. Lieutenant
Walter Butler. Colonel John Butler was in command at Wyoming and
was responsible for the horrible massacre at that place. His
son. Lieutenant Walter Butler, will be forever execrated because
of the massacre at Cherry Valley. Both father and son were
concerned in the greater part of the Indian raids and massacres
which resulted in almost depopulating the Mohawk valley during
the Revolution.
Walter was
killed after the Battle of Johnstown. There are many versions of
the affair. The one most commonly given is that he was killed by
an Oneida Indian at a place that has since been known as
Butler's Ford. It is said that Butler on his retreat after the
battle had reached the Fast Canada Creek at a place about
fifteen miles above Herkimer. He swam the stream on his horse,
then turned and shouted defiance at his enemies who were
pursuing him. At that moment he was shot by the Oneida referred
to, who swam across the creek and tomahawked him, though Butler
pleaded in vain for mercy. It is said that the Indian replied to
Butler's pleadings by saying, "Sherry Valley! Remember Sherry
Valley!"
The Butler House
About all
that is certainly known is that Butler was killed at the place
mentioned. The story of Johnstown has already been fully told.
Stone
Arabia
Stone Arabia
was a little hamlet about three miles north of Palatine. During
the Revolution there was a small fort there known as Fort Paris.
Colonel Brown was stationed there with a force of one hundred
and thirty men. When Sir John Johnson made his raid to hold the
enemy in check, so that he could attack them in the rear.
Colonel Brown obeyed orders, but owing to some delay General Van
Rensselaer did not make the promised attack. Colonel Brown and
thirty or forty of his men were killed.
Fonda
Where is now
the village of Fonda, was a hamlet known as Caughnawaga. The
name was changed to Fonda in honor of Douw or Henry Fonda, or
possibly in honor of both. Douw Fonda was one of the original
patentees, and he and Henry Fonda were very active in building
up the place. Just to the east of the present village of Fonda
was the old Indian village of Caughnawaga. The town suffered
much during the Revolution. It was burned by Sir John Johnson
during his raid in 1780. The ancient Dutch church at Caughnawaga
was founded in 1762 by Sir William Johnson. The principal
supporters of the church were the Fonda, Vrooman, Wemple, and
Veeder families. The first pastor of the church was the Reverend
Thomas Romeyn.
Ancient Dutch Church at Caughnawaga
Canajoharie
Canajoharie is a thrifty little village
on the south side of the Mohawk, a little over forty miles west
of Schenectady. The upper Mohawk castle was located there. The
parents of Joseph Brant lived in the Canajoharie district, but
not where the present village is located. He made his home there
till after the death of his first wife. The village was
destroyed by the Indians in 1780. It was through the valley
General Van Rensselaer ordered Colonel Brown here that Clinton
gathered his forces and sent out an expedition against the
Onondagas, then crossed over to the head of Otsego Lake on his
way to join Sullivan.
The
Palatines
Before considering the Palatine district
it is necessary to have some understanding of the Palatines, who
they were, why they came to this country, and the character of
the people. The immigration of the Palatines forms one of the
most interesting events in the history of the state, and the
care of this people caused at least two colonial governors more
concern than any other one matter connected with their
administrations.
These people belonged to the lower
Palatinate of the Rhine. They were ruled by a hereditary prince,
who was styled the Count Palatine of the Rhine. The Palatine
espoused the cause of Luther, and during the religious wars
which followed, the territory of the Palatines was the battle
ground of armies and was ravaged again and again. Louis XIV of
France sent armies into the Palatinate and destroyed cities and
towns, gardens and vineyards, and fields of grain. It is said
that at one time there were two cities and twenty-five towns in
flames. After this work of destruction the Palatines became
exiles and wanderers. About the beginning of the eighteenth
century they began to make their way into England. Later they
sought homes in the new world and in this way they were
encouraged by the English, who believed that these Palatines,
being the hereditary foes of the French, would make desirable
settlers in the country where the French and English were
struggling for the possession of a continent.
The first of the Palatines who came to
this country consisted of a party of forty under the leadership
of Joshua Koekerthal. They settled in Orange County near Newburg
in the spring of 1709. The following year about three thousand
others came. They were settled on a tract of six thousand acres
of land near Germantown, Columbia County. The English government
defrayed the expenses of this large party and became responsible
for their maintenance for a year. In return the Palatines agreed
to settle on such lands as should be allotted them, and not
leave without the governor's permission. There was "graft" even
in those early days and the poor Palatines suffered greatly in
consequence. There is not time to tell very fully the story of
their grievances. The land allotted them was not adapted for the
business assigned them. Those who were able to meet their
obligations to the English left, and joined their brethren in
Pennsylvania, but the larger number was compelled by stress of
circumstances to remain in this state. A new ministry had come
into power in England and it repudiated the agreements made with
the Palatines and would not allot them land till they had paid
their debt to the English, and these poor people found
themselves virtually in slavery. They had been promised five
pounds in money for each person, but no part of it had been
paid. They had been promised clothes, tools, seed, etc., but
little was furnished them. Their children were taken from them
without their consent and bound out till they were of age. They
furnished three hundred men for the expedition against Canada,
but they were never paid for their services and many of them
came back to find their families starving. Many of them were
sent to aid the garrison at Albany and they also received no
pay. The fall of the year came and many of these people went
into the Schoharie valley, where the Indians had given them
permission to settle; but when fifty families had reached the
valley the governor ordered them not to occupy the land under
penalty of being declared rebels. However, their necessities
were such that they had no choice but to remain and take the
chances of the governor's displeasure. Early the following
spring the remainder of the Palatines on the Hudson joined their
friends at Schoharie. The English seem to have done about all
that they could to make life unendurable for the Palatines, who
must have perished but for the friendship of the Indians. It is
probable that the Palatines would have avoided most of their
troubles had they at first settled in Schoharie or in the valley
of the Mohawk instead of being sent to the unfit place on the
Hudson. It seems clear that most of the trouble grew out of a
shameful effort on the part of a few men to gather wealth at the
expense of the government. A third party of Palatines came to
this country in 1722. It was at about this time that these
people made a settlement at German Flatts.
Macaulay, speaking of the Palatines,
says, "They were honest, laborious men, who had once been
thriving burghers of Mannheim and Heidelberg, or who had
cultivated the vine on the banks of the Neckar and the Rhine;
their ingenuity and their diligence could not fail to enrich any
land which should afford them an asylum."
Among the Palatine names now to be met
with in the valley are Hoffman, Bellinger, Hartman, Edick, Wever,
Helmer, Becker, Kneiskern, Conrad, Young, Houck, Angell, Snyder,
Wagner, Newkirk, Kline, Planck, and many others who are
descendants of the people of whom Macaulay speaks so highly. One
of Sir William Johnson's daughters married Daniel Clans, who was
one of the Palatines, and a noted Indian fighter. Among the
Palatines was a boy named John Peter Zenger, who was apprenticed
to William Bradford, the printer, and later became a prominent
figure in the city of New York.
Mohawk Valley
| AHGP New York
Source: Stories from Early New York
History, by Sherman Williams, New York, Charles Scribner's Sons,
1906
|
