1690 CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. Godfridus Dellius to Daniel Van Suylesteyn, of England, (A large part of this letter is mutilated and quite illegible. It appears to be directed to a Mr. Van Suylesteyn, first stable-master of the King (William III). It seems to have given a pretty full statement of the sufferings and tyranny to which ministers and members of the Reformed Church had been subjected, during the government of Jacob Leisler, and besought his intervention with the King.) WARRANT TO PAY A CHAPLAIN AND OTHER OFFICERS FOR NEW 1690, March 13. Whereas. We have thought fit to make and Pass an Establishment for two foot companies to be employed in our Province of New York in America to be paid out of the monies appointed for the Pay of the Land Forces within our Kingdome of England according to the Rates therein mentioned. And being informed that there will accrue a surplusage of Five hundred and fifty three pounds four shillings and eleven pence or there abouts, at the rate of thirty P: Cent by the difference of the money or value of money currant in our said Province. Our Will and Pleasure is, hereby further to appoint a Chaplain for the said Two Companies at the rate of six shillings and eight pence P. Diem. A Chirurgeon etc.- Col. Docs. N. Y. III. 691. AGENTS AT ALBANY TO GOVERNMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS. 1690, March 20. Wee found that the French gained much upon the Indians by sending their Clergyman amongst them, not so much to convert their souls as their beaver and other trade to Canada; yet by their familiarity and continuall converse, insinuated into the minds of the Heathen and prevailed much, wee move that your honors be pleased to persuade some of your young divines to undertake to instruct the Indians, especially ye Maquase, in the true Protestant Religion; since divers have an inclination to, itt One being by the great pains and industry of Our Minister. Domine Dellius, brought so far that he made his publick confession in the Church at Albany to every body's admiration and was baptized accordingly. Robert Livingstone, Gerrit Teunise, Thos. Garton.- Col. Docs. N. Y. III. 696. Leisler Writes to the King. On March 31, 1690, Leisler wrote to King William, giving an account of affairs to January 1689 (1690). Under same date he wrote a lengthy letter to the shop of Salisbury, giving an account of the massacre at Schenectady, as follows: 31st March 1690. May it please your Lordship: The foregoing being sent via Boston pr the gents for New England which we hope are safely arrived ere this date, we take ave to add, that a certain village named Schanechtede twenty four Miles to the orthward of Albany on Saturday the 9th of February last about eleven oclock at ght came two hundred French and Indians near one hundred each and attacqed e same whilst it snowed thick, barbarously destroyed the Inhabitants, all being utch: they murthered sixty persons, and bore away with them twenty seven risoners, wounding some others so that there remained but about one sixth part f them having their cattel, goods and provisions destroyed and wrested from hem, the remnant sheltering themselves at Albany, where is provision made for hem from New Yorke Being alarmed by the daily expectations of the French nd Indians at Mont Real, endeavouring to obtaine upon the allyed Indians with s, viz. the Macquaes, Onyedauns, Onondades, Cayougaes, Sinnekaes and Maheanders who have espoused our cause, we have appointed persons to meet them at Albany in a few days to consult our best way to intercept the Ennemies march; The Macquaes having given us proofe of their fidelity and courage by pursuing hose who destroyed Schenechtede even near their own home, taking and slaying wenty five of them who lagged in the reare, and promised to rayse more than one housand Men of theirs to joine with four hundred of ours which we have near aised for that intent ".- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 700. Warrant to GOVERNOR SLOUGHTER TO USE THE SEAL OF NEW YORK. 1690, May 1. To our Trusty and wellbeloved Henry Sloughter Esq., our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our Province of New York, and the Territories depending thereon in America, Greeting. Herewith you will receive a Seal appointed by Us for the use of our Province of New Yorke and the Territories depending thereon in America, the same being engraved on the one side with our Royal Effegies, and two Indians kneeling and offering presents unto Us, with our Royal Titles round the circumference of the said Seal; and on the other side with our royal Armes, with the Garter, Crown, Supporters and Motto, and this Inscription round the circumference. Sigillum Provinciae Nostrae Novi Eboraci in America, which said Seal, We do hereby authorize and direct to be used in the sealing all Patents and publick Grants of lands and all Publick Acts and Instruments which shall be made and passed in our name and for our service within our said Province and the Territories depending thereon and that it be to all intents and purposes of the same force and Validity, as any former Seal within our Province, or as any other Seal whatsoever appointed for the use of any of our Plantations in America. And So we bid you farewell. Given at our Court at Kensington the thirty first day of May 1690, In the Second year of our Reign. By his Majesty's Command. The copy of the preceding Warrant, in the Secretary's Office, in Book of Com- 1690 May the Lord have pity on you and send you aid from on High, that you may be able, with a strong heart and willing mind, to walk day and night in His law, since you daily mortify yourself for the glory of His name; for you have become a prisoner on account of your great charity towards the Indians, and for the salvation of souls; for when you were called by them to pray to the Lord for a sick Squaw, they then took you prisoner, and this is the cause of your captivity. You are aware, and God is our witness, that as long as we have had intercourse with the Indians, we had no other intentions than the salvation of souls, and the existence of peace, as well with the English as between the French and Indians; but it has happened, that they are turned, by the artifice of the Devil and by Envy to the destruction of those souls which Christ has redeemed with his own blood. We pray that He may quickly conciliate the English and French, and free them from the wickedness of wars. We send you by him, who is called L'Outarde, paper and powder, which, when mixed with water, will make ink. Thus, with permission of the Indians, you will be able to write to us. We also send you clothes to cover you, and golden coin for the purchase of a woolen, or any other cloak, or garment you may need. But we have no news except that Domine Dellius, the minister at Albany, an honest man and well disposed towards us, told a French soldier, a prisoner among the Mohawks, that he had seen the letters we wrote you and that bad construction had been put on them. If you have any opportunity to communicate with him through the Indians, you may assure him that we never entertained any such thought, as we abhor crimes of this nature. But I request, should you see Domine Dellius, minister at Albany, or write to him, that you make him my respects. Although there may be war between the French and those English who are opposed to the King of England, nevertheless we always entertain the same friendly disposition towards Domine Dellius, inasmuch as we both desire peace, not war. Farewell. We pray God that, all dissensions being soon at an end, we may again embrace you in safety. This is the sum of our prayers. Again adieu; from your old companion and neighbor among the Indians. All salute you. A mon Rev'd Pere Pere Millet, de la Compie de Jesus A Onnei8t. Concordat cum original. Quod attestatt (signed) Abram Gouverneur.- Col. Docs. N. Y. iii. 714, 715. See also Dellius's Defence, Oct. 21, 1700. EXTRACTS FROM VAN CORTLANDT'S ACCOUNT TO SIR EDMUND Extracts and Abstract. "May it please your Excellency: 1690, May 19. It is now nere seventeen weekes that I have been forced out of my house, by the violence of Captain Laysler, and hath sent and inquired almost every where after mee, but by the grace of God I am still free from his hands; And although I have sent to him to know the reason why he doth prosecute mee in such a forcible manner, and if I have committed any crime or offence, that I was ready to give security both for my good behavior and appearance when lawfully called; but no plaine answer could be had, onely that he would have my person if between heaven and earth: People say, he will have off me againe the money I received off the Collector Plowman, by your Excellency's order; others say he thinks I doe not owne him to be the Kings Lieutenant Governor; some say that Mr. Bayard had writt to some of his friends (which letter was intercepted:) that he would retake the Fort, and that I with Bayard doe conspire against him, to rise the people, and to deposesse him, which is wholly false; for I expect my help from God and his Majesty: Mr. Bayard is still in prison and in irons; William Nicholls is in close prison; soe is Mr. Hix for not delivering up his Commission as Justice of the Peace: Poore Perry is there still; Mr. Johannes Kip, Alderman and Deacon off our Church, 1690 1690 for going in the Church to old Mr. Beeckman to receive the Almes, before he went to young Henry the Baker, who is now one off the Councill; Mr. Christoffer Gere Is in prison for saying he was as much Lieutenant Governor as Mr. Leisler; Dr. Geodineau, for not delivering up his Commission as Leftenant:- he was in the expedition with Governor Dongan att Albany; Major Willett, Captain Jackson Daniel Whitehead and others are also forced to flye. Coll. Hamilton, Townly, Captain Bourne, Pinhorne, and others off New Jersey Gentlemen, dare not come in town; Governor Dongan was confined in his house att Hemstede, but is gone to New Yersay, and many more ". Milbourne's actions at Albany and flight to Esopus are then referred to. "The French and Indians have alsoe burned Scheneghtade, killed sixty people, and took twenty eight young men and boys, prisoners. About one hundred and fifty Indians and fifty young men of Albany followed the French. overtook them upon the lake, killed some and tooke fifteen Frenchmen, which the Indians have killed in their castles". "Most of the Albany woemen are att New Yorke ". A privateer was being fitted out to take Quebec, but it was hard to get volunteers" Drumbes are daily beating for men to goe upon said vessell, but few appeared; which hath caused a resolve to be taken that some of the best Inhabitants of New Yorke, of which a list is made, should be pressed to goe on board said two vessels in his Majesty's service to take Canida, which hath made several of them to absent themselves and leave New Yorke and come in New Jersey ". A civil Assembly was called, but onely a few attended, in order to raise money for Leisler, but the effort was not successful. The people petitioned this Assembly to set the many political prisoners free, but without success. The provisions of the people and the merchants were now seized by Leisler, for his soldiers. Certain moneys which had been raised to redeem certain captives from captivity, were alsoe seized: "The remainder of the money that was gathered for the redemption of Laisler and the other slaves in Turkey, which your Excellency (Andros) gave to build a new Church in New Yorke, our Church Warden had it laid out in Amsterdam, and got Osenbridge linnes for it, all which Osenbridge Laisler hath taken, and sent to Albany with Milbourne ". He then referred to the false rumors circulated about the former Governors treasonable imaginations though they were. A year had passed since these troubles began, and he (Van Cortlandt) had not been able to be at his own home for three months in all, during that period, in order to avoid imprisonment; and those imprisoned could seldom speak with any of their relatives. "Being thus in this Chaos off troubles, and in the middle of all these afflictions, deprived from the liberty of looking after my estate, my wife affronted and beaten, my children threatened: (one of which died in my absence:) all the other sicke, my estate running to decay, blamed by the people, my honour stained, my credit blasted, all which greeves me to the hartt, without, that I can have any remedy here off these that are in Government, here, and having nobody in England to whome I can addresse my selfe for helpe and assistance in this pressing misery and Calamity, and being assured that your Excellency hath that kindnesse and favor for mee and my family to help mee if it lyes in your power; I make bold to address myself unto your Excellency moste humbly beseeching your Excellency bee pleased to endevour that an order may bee sent over for our releef; that those that have now been soe long in prison and those that have been forced to absent themselves, and |