eager for action. In case we should meet with no success, it will nevertheless satisfye the
Indians, being chieftly their desire, it will also terrify the Enemy much, to find such a number
of Men in quest of them. Another advantage which may derive from this is giving the Six
Nations a better opinion of us, than they have hitherto had, and will undoubtedly engage them
to join us against Niagara, should such a thing be set on foot. There are a great many Senecas,
Oltawawees ettc now at my house, 20 of which are to go with me, which I reckon a fine
thing. They bring me very agreable news from the Foreign Nations, who have sent six large
Belts of Wampum to the six Nations, desiring their liberty to destroy Niagara, and that it
should be done very shortly, meaning in a month or so; the Six Nations have now sent for
them to come to their assistance. I shall let your Excell'^^ know the whole affair, as soon as
they have done speaking, which my coming down prevented till my return. I hope your
Excell"'' will not let the Indians be neglected or slighted upon any account, as they are now so
ready to serve us should we go on with any thing it would vastly encourage them. I am —
Sir. Your Excell"^*'
most obedient humble servant
VV. Johnson.
390 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Colonel Johnson to Governor Clinton.
[Now- York Papers, Bundle Gg., No. 205.]
28 August 1747.
Sir
This is to acquaint Your Excell''^' that I am just setting off this instant for Lake Sacrament
with 400 Christians mostly Volunteers and about as many Indians here present, besides vast
numbers by the Road, who were met yesterday, by one of my people; he says, for about 12
miles the Road was full of them, they one and all come with the greatest speed upon a call
given to some of tiie SI.k Nations, that there was a number of the Enemy approaching near us;
they have also as they tell me called all the Foreign Indians even Conastogy & Susquehanas,
wiiom they expect every day; upon which I left some people at home to fit them out with
what necessarys they want, and send them after me ; if we can but meet this army as they
call it which is very likely, I hope to give your Excell''^ a good account of them. The Indians
being all in great earnest as is plain by their traveling night and day to get hither; what will
be done with them all after my return, which will be in about 12 days at furthest, 1 can't tell,
having nothing left of any consequence for them, what would be worse, to let such a parcel of
fine stout Fellows go back again without employing them further, wherefore I hope Your
Excell'^y Council and Assembly will consider of it seriously before I return, otherwise, I must
assure Your Excell" there will be no living for me, or any one else in this part of the
world, wiiich perhaps the Gentlemen in that part of the Country may be easy at, as it seems
to all people here they are, by their backwardness, which, doubt not will be the entire ruin
of the Country.
I am with great haste — Sir, Your Excell"^^'
most obedient humble servant
W. JoHNSOX
Speech of the Indians to Governor Clinton.
[ Ncw-Tork Papers, Bundle Gg , No. 20T. ]
Memorniulum of the Cayugas, Ottrovvanees head of the Onondages and Flat
nose's speech to his Excell'^-'' on the 17. day of July 1747 at Albany.
As they told his Excell"'*'
1". They are sensible that His Excell'=J' our Gov^ and also the Gov"' of Boston, have tryed at
two several times to bring the Cocknewagas from the French interest into our alliance, under
the Five Nations, from whence they are originally proceeded, the reason therefore of some
of them going to Canada, is to make a third tryal themselves, if they can by any means
bring them over to the British Interest, and say if they can by no means perswade them to
return, they shall make no more tryals, but shall reckon them (as they do the French)
inveterate Enemies of the British iNation.
2ndiy 'pi^jjt at a Battle with the Flatheads, they lost four of their best fighters, and had news
that the Flatheads were coming upon them, in three parties, of which they are fearful, one of
the parties having done what thev came out for, but have no news of the other two.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 391
3'y That one of their Indians in his way down from the Quitways^ met with three otlier
different Nations at Kichaga, where they lodged all together as they lay there, there came a
Battow with nine Frenchmen and landed near them ; after they had landed, a Nation called
Younondadys, called a Council of all that were present, and told them they knew that the five
Nations had taken up the Axe against the French from our Gov', but that they had not taken
the Axe, but desired to use their own weapons, which was granted by the rest of the Nations
then present. Then they immediately killed eight and took the Commander prisoner, whom
they have resolved to return in the place of a great Trader from Pliiladelphia, which was
killed two years ago by the French or his directions, and the scalps they resolved to send
where his Excell'^^ our Gov'' had hung over the War kettle, but that the Indian appointed to
bring them down, had lost his wife, which is the reason, they are not yet come, but they are
resolved to send them to where the War kettle hung over, in order to see if they would not
give the Broth a good relish to the pleasing of his Exceil'''" palate. The Ottowauways and
other Nations thanked them, and said they intended in a short time to make tryal, if they
could not boil the same Broth.
4_thi}- 'fhat some Cocknewaga Indians were arrived at Yaugree^ with a large packet of letters,
part of which were for John Ceur at the Seneca's Country, and part of them were opened at
Yaugree, there being Indians present who saw when they went to read the letters, they locked
the door on them, which made the Indians suspicious; so one of them an Indian that understood
French, stood and listened at the door, and found, that they had or was about concluding to
destroy the Five Nations, particularly tiie Cayougas.
5thiy That three Nations of the Foreign Indians have agreed to destroy the P'ort at Yaugree,
for they say a sort of Witches about the said Fort always keep the Path foul and dirty, and
for that reaso|B-they have resolved to make it clean.
N. B. The Three Nations are the Missesagues, Wawehattecooks and Ocknehnruse, who
have eight big Castles — the biggest of all the Nations, these people are 1500 or 2000.
Petition of Inhahitants of Coxhaukee, County of Albany.
[ New-Tork Papers, Bundle Gg., No. 211. ]
14. July 1747,
Sir,
As by all your actions since the Commencement of the present War, we are well satisfyed
and convinced, that you have not only the Interest but the good and quiet of the people of our
Country entirely at heart. We therefore beg leave to address you that you will be so good and
speak in our behalf to his ExcelK'' our Gov' and Commander in chief (for whom we have the
greatest regard) That his E-xcelKJ" would be graciously pleased to appoint us Officers Freeholders
residing in our own Ward. We take the liberty to set down the names of a few, out of which
number be pleased to recommend two, the one to be second Lieut' and the other Ensign ;
' Sic. Prol)al)ly Qualoghoes, or Ilurons, settled at this time at Sandusky. See Jouinal, Kovember, 1746 to October, 1717, in
Par>» Docu>iie7ilii, post. Sub data, iO July, 1747. — Ed.
' Sie. Niagara,
392
NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
recommend which you please, any of them will be agreable to us, and we are ready for ever
to do our duty, and to obey His Excell''^' Commands on all occasions, under whose Govern' we
enjoy all the happiness we can expect in this troublesome and Barbarous War, and that we
shall ever acknowledge this singular Favour, which if his Excel^^ will please to grant will
make our whole company satisfied and contented. —
Abraham van Franckein
Caspar Coyleu,
JoAciM Cayleb
Claus Severse
Lindert Comyne
Jan Brenck Jun'
Peir Hoghteling
Isaac Cayler
Jan Brenck
Peter Conyne
John P. Bronck.
Jan Casper Halenbeck
Wâ„¢ Halenbeeck
Abraham V^osburgh
Johannes Arnyock
Richard Martin
Claus Spoor,
Johannes van Len
Archibald Hopkins
Hendrick Hooghtelingh
Hendrick van Slyck
Gerret van Slyck
Tunis Hooghtelingh
Hendrick van den Berck,
Nanning Halenbeek
Jacob Jo' Halenbeek
Jenas Bronk.
Mathias Vanderberck,
Philip Comyne
Phillip Brank Jun'
Hughbertus van Veghten
Claus Pare
Isaac Pare
Jacob C. Halenbeeck
Ephraim Hoes
Claus van Sloen
Jan Halenbeck
Johannes Provast
Abraham Provast
Samuel Provast
Jacob Provast
Isaac Provast
Johannes Spoor
Jurie van Len
Robert Laterige
John T. Bronck
William van Slyck
Pier van Slyck
Jan van den Berck
Robert van den Berck
Jacob Halenbeek
Hendrich Halenbeek
Arent van Schaak Jun'
Census of the Province of New-YorTc, 1746.
[New-York Papere, Bundle Qg., No. 214.]
An account of the number of Inhabitants of the Province of New York taken 4.
June 1746. by order of His Excellency Governour Clinton.
City & Cmiitj of N. Y
Kings County
Albany County
Queen's County
Dutchess County
SufFulk County
Ricliraond County . . .
Orange County- .
Westchester County .
Ulster County
117 2097 149 2013 2S97 419.
350 435 71 366 464 140
not possible to be numbered on ace't of the Enemy
i)-|
1946
1826
233
21)77
1914
2200
2056
200
2100
1750
1887
1835
226
1891
2016
445
376
35
421
414
636
763
67
871
721
2435
2090
303
2095
lii40
1022
1044
116
972
1000
12938
12522
1,400
12196
12816
64.6
167
365
106
329
92
82
187
244_
466
160
393
88
99
180
321
61
26
62
13
34
27
43
Total WhU
51872—
1964.
2529.
364
735
154
391
108
315
95
51
138
229
669
152
861
100
310
94
44
140
264
2216 2034 61689,
11717
2331
9640
8806
9254
2073
3268
9235
5266
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII.
393
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First : The Country people here have for many years,
& >*-!, their home-spun ( s" termed ) of wool and
Flax 10 supply themselves somewhat with the
necessaries ol clothing eltc.
From the year 1715. or thereabouts, have been
raised Linseed and milled into oil ; hats made of
Beaver-fur, the exporting whereof prevented by
the Act, from Michelmas 1732 also Lamp-black
work'd up.
From the year 1730 Sugar baking and its refining
have been for home consumption and transporta-
tion bene** to other districts on the continent and
to the West-Indies by regular Certificates, and
latterly the distilling of Eum and other Spirits ; for
these are three houses erected.
In this province are mines of Iron and Lead ores,
the Manufacturing of which have been of late
proposed and the rai^ing ot Hemp likewise.
Lastly; of these several besides, are grain of ail
sorts and other provisions, with Tobacco, a diminu-
tive quantity nalu^^.ly produced out of this soil,
yet being with such like brought hither from the
Eastern and Western parts of this continent are
saleable and vended abroad, cannot be distinguish-
ed as to ascertain the annual exporting of Iheir
value; neither practicable could it he from the
imports thereof seperated, because their prices
accordmg to the Markets currently vary in the
respective species. —
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These on each Column are particularised so as to the quantities as qualities in the Quarterly lists
of Trading Vessels ; the transmitting whereof to their Lordships, is from the Naval Officer here,
coDstiluted by the Governour and also such Lists duly to their Honours the Commissioners of the
Customs from their Officers, hence, thereby may appear, that within the queries mentioned, time,
how the increase or diminution differencelh respectively.
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First: To Lnndon and outports
thereof, the latter seldom, the
enumerated goods and other
Mertbandize legally imported.
To Ireland: Flax se.-d, Kum,
Sugar, being prize effects and
Staves.
To other parls of Europe grain,
hides, Elk skins, Deers-kins. Ox-
horns, logwood, Indico cocoa
nutis ette of foreign produce,
lumber also. Sugar Coffie, wines
and other goods as prize effects
he brought and in the Vice Ad-
miralty Court adjudicated upon
proper cerlifjing.
To Madeira and Azores: Grain
and other provisions, Bee wax
and Staves.
To English districts North and
Southof this Conlinenland West
Indies; provisions, chocolate,
lumber, European &. India goods
with those species enumerated
and such others as brought here
for export regularly.
Lastly: to the neutral Ports: as
St Thomas Curp^oa and Surren-
haim : provisions Lumber and
Horses with provender.
^
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First : From Great Briitain : Euro-
pean gc-ods and those India with
silk manulac'.ures chiefly.—
From Ireland: iinnen and canvass
asdulv certified.
From British Colonies: ennume-
rated commodiles, Kum, Lime-
juice, snuff, piemenio, 8Uli)hur
strawplat, deer skins, conch-
shells, mahogany ebony and Ne-
groes.
From Europe and both English
and Foreign settlements in Ame-
rica together in Africa : salt.
From Africa, within the proper
limits directed, Negroes n'>w less
than formerly brought hither.
From Madeira: wines the growth
thereof.
From Northern and Southern parts
of this Contioent: Cyder, Oil,
Blubber, Whale fins. Flax seed,
hops Flax, Bricks, Seal skins and
certain wrought Iron, Brasury
and Tin.
Lastly Jrom Plantations not under
His Majtys Dominions: small
quantities of Molasses, sugar and
Kum, since the Act imposine the
new duties thereon. Snuff Lign:
vitae, Indico, Logwood and other
dying wool, cotton-wool, cocoa
nutts etlc.
3
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w
B
What is the trade of this Province, the number ol
Shipping, Ihfir tonnage and the Number of sea-
faring Men with the respective increase or diminu-
tion within 10 years past? —
What quantity and sorts of British Manufactures do
the Inhabitants annually take from hence?
What Trade has iho Province under Tour Governt
with any Foreign Plantationsor any part of Europe
besides greal Britlain ? how is that trade carried
on ? what commodities do the people under Your
Governt send or receive from Foreign Plantains?
What is the natural produce of the Country staple
commodities and Manufactures? and what value
(hereof in sterling money may you annually report
i
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s%
si
is
si
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^i
Vol. VI
50
394 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Governor Clinton to the Duke of Newcastle.
[New-Tork. (S. P. O.) X., 448.]
My Lord.
It is with the greatest concern that I must again trouble Your Grace with what has already
been the subject of my former letters; but when the papers which I send along with this shall
be considered (and which I pray your Grace may be ordered to be considered) I am confident
your Grace will be convinced that I have done every thing in my power to prevent .your
having the trouble, which I am now under the necessity of giving your Grace. Therefore
I must observe to you, that in the midst of a most unreasonable & unjustifiable opposition, I
have done every thing in ray power for his Majesty's service.
That after the most scandalous and false reflections thrown on my person and administration
by the Assembly of this Province, I have several times passed them all over & begun a new
with them in offering matters for his Majesty's service and the interest of his people, as if no
such injuries had been done, and which will evidently appear to your Grace from the Copys
of the Messages I sent to the Assembly and their Resolves and answers thereon, which have
been formerly transmitted to your Grace and to the Board of Trade & Plantations, or are at
this time transmitted. Their behaviour cou'd not have been justified in the manner it has
been done, tiio' all the facts charged in the Representation had been true, whereas they are
absolutely false, as I hope from the papers transmitted to your Grace and to the Board of
Trade will appear to be so beyond contradiction. It will likewise appear that the Opposition
I have mett with cou'd proceed from nothing but a most malicious spirit of wicked men, who
have had nothing less in view than the overturning of the constitution of His Majesty's
governments in the Plantations by wresting his Majesty's authority out of the hands of his
Officers and placing the Administration in a popular faction and of satisfying at the same time
their malicious resentments.
In order to make themselves the more popular, the Assembly has in a most unreasonable
manner, not only refused to contribute according to their ability in the expence attending the
Expedition ag' Canada, but have thrown the load of it upon the Crown, and have refused
contributing any thing towards my retaining the Indians longer in their late engagements with
me against the enemy ; but are now endeavouring to throw that extraordinary expence likewise
upon the Crown, tho' their own preservation be immediately concerned in it; and I can justly
say the expence of the Colonys in North America in proportion to their abilities, is in no
manner adequate to that which the people of England cheerfully submit to in defence of the
liberties of Europe. Great numbers of the people of this Province are become sensible of these
things and the popularity of the faction has in a good measure declined, and I hope the
necessity of securing themselves will induce them to do what may be requisite for the defence
of the Colony till the Spring ; yet the saving of money and the ease of the people is so very
prevailing that I cannot be assured of success. However nothing in my power shall be
wanting to ease the Crown of every charge I can, and nothing shall prevail upon me to add to
the expence I have been under a necessity of putting the Crown to, but the immediate
preservation of this valuable Colony from becoming a prey to the enemy, by the obstinate
humours of a prevalent faction.
LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXVIII. 395
As M' Horstnanden (one of the Council) has been tlie principal actor in the opposition and
in forming the faction against all the measures which I have thought necessary for his Majesty's
service, I have suspended him from His Majesty's Council & removed him from the offices of
trust which he enjoyed in this Province, for the reasons which are herewith transmitted to
your Grace, and which I hope your Grace will think deserves serious attention and will receive
his Majesty's approbation. And I beg leave to recommend M"" James Alexander to be restored
to the place he held formerly in the Council of this Province, being a gentleman of one of the
best estates in the Province and in many respects the most capable of serving his Majesty of any
person that I know of; as I have in my former letters to your Grace more particularly set forth.
I must at the same time earnestly recommend Cadwallader Colden, the first in the list of
Councillors in this Province, to his Majesty's particular favour. He has been upwards
of twenty five years in the Council and has on many occasions ( as I am well informed)
distinguished himself in his Majesty's service ; but more particularly at this time, when without
his assistance it would have been impossible for me to have supported the Administration ag'
a rapacious faction, sett on foot to weaken & distress the orders and powers of the Crown, and
I must on this occasion the more earnestly recommend his services to your Graces intercession
with his Majesty, because he has not only expos'd himself to the malicious resentment of
considerable men in this Province, but by a constant attendance for upwards of fifteen months
at a distance from his family, his private affairs have suffered much. I formerly recommended
him to be appointed Lieutenant Governour of this Province for these & other reasons mention'd
in my former letters.
I must beg leave on this occasion to mention to your Grace, that unless those who distinguish
themselves in his Majesty's service, be considered likewise by his Majesty's favour, while others
find it so much for their interest to distinguish themselves in popular factions in opposition to
the Administration & to the King's prerogative, perhaps none in this Province will for the
future expose themselves to such resentments as he has done.
Popular factions and power are become so prevalent not only in this but in all the Northern
Colonys, that unless his Majesty's Ministers give their assistance in a different manner from
what has hitherto been done, I am humbly of opinion that it will not be in the power of
Governours to support his Majesty's authority; and I believe it will appear to your Grace from
the papers herewith & formerly transmitted that the aid of Parliament is become necessary.
For this purpose nothing seems more needfull than a certain and fixed support for the Officers
of the Government, for from the want of this, the power of faction in the Colonies has been
perpetually increasing; and if once a support be fixed for the Officers in the ordinary
administration, it will not then be so difficult to obtain any necessary supply on extraordinary
occasions, as it is now to obtain the ordinary support. Nothing seems so proper for this
purpose as a Quit Rent upon the lands equally rated, as it wou'd be the most equitable and
least burthensome method of any that I have heard mentioned ; and I am informed that the
lands now settled (at the rate of 2'|6'* p"" hundred acres, (which is the condition on which all
the lands are granted, and which is willingly paid by the Patentees) would in this Province
immediately produce a fund of above four thousand pounds a year which is more than ever
was granted by an Assembly for the support of government, and this fund must yearly increase
by the continued improvement of new lands.
M'' Colden being many years Surveyor General of lands in this Province is more capable
than any to give nil the information requisite on this head ; but as many considerable familys
396 NEW-YORK COLONIAL RIANUSCRIPTS.
are possess'd of very large tracts on trifling Quit Rents, it is probable he may be afraid of
exposing himself to further resentments without perfect assurance of his Majesty's favour &
protection, with proper incouragement for so doing.
Since Your Grace's dispatches touching the disbanding the troops raised for the Expedition
came to Governour Shirley, I have his directions and advice to maintain the Indians at the cost
of the Crown, & likewise the New Levys, till such time as M' Knowles arrives, in order to
concert measures with him and me for their reduction, and as the Indians engaged in this
service are very numerous as well as the New Levys, I am obliged to continue my drafts on
the Government, to answer those ends, and I do assure your Grace that I have and do daily act
most frugally for the Crown ani I hope not only to receive applause but also credit and thanks
for the extraordinary labour, pains, cost & hazard I have been put to on this occasion ; and I
can farther assure your Grace that the Assembly have flatly denyed me any assistance or
contribution towards these expences hitherto, tho' frequently & earnestly applied for ; and I
must repeat it again that nothing but the aid of Parliament can bring them to a sense of their
duty to his Majesty.
In a former letter I recommended to your Grace Colonel Johnson's services among the
Indians, he being chosen by themselves to be their Colonel ; and had the Expedition gone on,
I cou'd have answered for the reduction of Canada by their means: they are still hearty for
that end, and Colonel Johnson is indefiitigable in keeping up that Spirit, and as this Gen" is Sir
Peter Warren's nephew I cannot avoid doing him justice, or too much recommend his services
& merit to your Graces consideration.
I am now endeavouring to take the charge of the Indians off" the Crown & to bring the
Assembly of this Province to join with the Massachusets and Connecticut governments upon