Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

The Story of Old Fort Plain and the Middle Mohawk Valley
by Nelson Greene
O'Connor Brothers Publishers, Fort Plain, NY 1915

CHAPTER VIII.
1774 to 1777-Growth of the American Liberty Movement-Tryon County Committee of Safety and Militia.

At the opening of the Revolution the Mohawk valley had enjoyed 20 years of peace and consequent development and prosperity. Its people had almost forgotten the horrors of the French and Indian depredations during the last contest between England and France which resulted in the latter's loss of Canada.

In 1774, the strong American sentiment for independence took form in Tryon county at a meeting held in the Palatine district which warmly approved the calling of a Continental congress for mutual consultation of the colonies upon their grievances against England. A set of resolutions was drawn up setting forth the American cause and correspondence was opened with the patriots of New York city. The Johnson party early in 1775 published a set of resolutions approving English acts and went about securing signatures, which excited the indignation of the majority of the Tryon county population who were Whigs. Most of the Tryon county officials signed the Johnson petition. The Whigs held meetings and the first one, of three hundred patriots, assembled at Caughnawaga to raise a liberty pole. This was broken up by an armed party of Tores headed by Sir John Johnson. Young Jacob Sammons interrupted a fiery speech of Col. Guy Johnson and was severely beaten by the Tories. Further patriotic meetings were held and at the second held at the house of Adam Loucks in Palatine, a committee to correspond with those of other districts was formed, this being the beginning of the Tryon County Committee of Safety. Johnson now armed further his fortifications at the Hall and organized and equipped his Tory Scotch highlanders. In view of these affairs the Palatine committee addressed a letter to the Albany committee setting forth the situation in the county and asking that the shipment of ammunition into It from Albany be supervised so that the Tories could not further arm themselves. Evidences soon appeared that Johnson -was endeavoring to secure the support of the Six Nations. His personal army now amounted to 500 men and he had cut off free communication between Albany and the upper valley settlements. The Palatine committee, May 21, protested against Johnson's course and the German Flats and Kingsland districts were Invited to cooperate with them.

May 24, 1775, the committees of all the districts but Mohawk met at the house of William Seeber in Canajoharie (at Fort Plain) and adopted resolutions of united action between the districts. Delegates were sent to Albany and Schenectady to confer with those committees. This was the first meeting of the Tryon County Committee of Safety and was held close to the site of the later fortification. May 25, the Tryon county and Albany committees held a council with the Mohawks at Guy Park without apparent results. On May 29, again at the house of William Seeber, near Fort Plain, a resolution was passed prohibiting all trade with persons who had not signed the article of association and slaves were not to be allowed off their master's premises without a permit. Any person disobeying these instructions was to be considered an enemy of the patriot cause. The first full meeting of the county committee was held in the western part of the Canajohaire district, June 2, 1775, at the house of Warner Tygert a neighbor and relative of General Herkimer. The names of the committee at that meeting follow:

Canajoharie District-Nicholas Herkimer, Ebenezer Cox, William Seeber, John Moore, Samuel Campbell, Samuel Clyde, Thomas Henry, John Pickard.

Kingsland and German Flats Districts-Edward Wall, William Petry, John Petry, Marcus Petry, Augustinus Hess, Frederick Ahrendorf, George Wents, Michael E. Ittig, Frederick Fox, George Herkimer, Duncan Mc- Dougall, Frederick Hilmer, John Franck.

Mohawk District-John Marlett, John Bliven, Abraham Van Horn, Adam Fonda Frederick Fisher, Sampson Sammons, William Schuyler, Volkert Veeder, James McMaster, Daniel Lane.

Palatine District-Isaac Paris, John Frey, Christopher P. Yates, Andrew Fink jr., Andrew Reeber, Peter Waggoner, Daniel McDougall, Jacob Klock, George Ecker jr., Harmanus Van Slyck, Christopher W. Fox and Anthony Van Vechten.

Of the members from the Canajoharie district, Herkimer and Cox lived in the present town of Danube, Seeber and Pickard in Minden, Henry in Harpersfield and Campbell and Clyde in Cherry Valley.

Christopher P. Yates was chosen chairman of the county committee and Edward Wall and Nicholas Herkimer were selected to deliver a letter of protest to Col. Guy Johnson against his Tory stand. Col. Johnson returned a politic but non-committal letter to this deputation. He appointed a council at German Flats but did not hold it but went on to Fort Stanwix, taking with him his family, a number of dependents and a great body of Mohawk Indians, who left their valley homes never to return except in war parties and against their old neighbors.

On June 11, 1775, the committee chose Christopher P. Yates and John Marlett as delegates to the provincial congress. This meeting- was held at the house of Gose Van Alstine (now known as Fort Rensselaer in the village of Canajoharie). Rev. Mr. Kirkland arranged a council of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras with the committee and Albany delegates at German Flats, June 28, 1775, which largely resulted in the friendly attitude of the Oneidas and Tuscaroras during the war.

July 3 the committee granted the petition of certain settlers for permission to form themselves into militia companies. The Tory mayor of Albany, who was fleeing west, was stopped by Capt. George Herkimer and the rangers and his batteau was searched but nothing contraband was found. By this time Guy Johnson and his party had pushed on to Ontario, far beyond the reach of angry patriots, and wrote back a hostile letter in reply to a pacific one sent him by the provincial congress. From Oswego Johnson went to Montreal accompanied by many warriors of the Six Nations. The Tryon county settlers feared that he would soon collect an army, and cooperating with John Johnson, sweep the valley of the patriots. The committee now assumed the civic and military functions of the county and began to have trouble with John Johnson over its assumption of the sheriff's duties and use of the jail and also over the formation of patriot companies in the vicinity of the hall. Congress ordered Gen. Schuyler to capture the military stores at Johnson Hall and disarm and disperse the Johnson Tory party. Jan. 18, 1776, Schuyler and his force met Col. Herkimer and the Tryon county militia at Caughnawaga. On the 19th at Johnstown, Sir John Johnson delivered up his war supplies and his 300 Scotch highlanders were disarmed. Col. Herkimer remained and brought in 100 Tories, who were disarmed. Johnson continuing his work for the Tory cause, in May, 1776, Col. Dayton was sent to capture him. Johnson escaped to Canada with many of his followers, striking into the northern wilderness as the Continentals were entering Johnstown, and leaving in such baste that he buried his plate and valuables. Lady Johnson was removed to Albany where she was held as hostage for her husband's actions. Johnson took a commission as colonel under the British and organized two battalions, from the Tories who followed him, which were called the Royal Greens. These Tryon county Tories surpassed the Indians in their barbaric acts on subsequent raids into the Mohawk valley and in their depredations around Fort Plain. A large part of the Tory population soon left Tryon county for Canada. Sir John's estate and that of some sixty other Tories, were confiscated by the patriot government. The Whigs were now formed, into companies by the different district committees. Aug. 22, 1776, the following were named, by a majority of votes, as field officers for the different districts:

Canajoharie, 1st Battalion-1st Col., Nicholas Herkimer; Lieut.-Col., Ebenezer Cox; major, Robert Wells; adjutant, Samuel Clyde.

Palatine, 2nd Battalion-Col., Jacob Klock; Lieut.-Col., Peter Waggoner; major, Harmanus Van Slyck; adjutant, Anthony Van Vechten.

Mohawk, 3rd Battalion-Col., Frederick Fisher; Lieut.-Col., Adam Fonda; major, John Bliven; adjutant, Robt. Yates.

Kingsland and German Flats, 4th Battalion-Col., Han Yost Herkimer; Lieut.-Col., Peter Bellinger; major, Han Yost Shoemaker; adjutant, Jno. Demooth.

At the same time Nicholas Herkimer was appointed "Chief Colonel Commander of the County of Tryon." Following his unsuccessful attempt to arrest Johnson, Col. Dayton was commissioned by Gen. Schuyler, in command of the northern army at Albany, to strengthen the valley defenses. Forts Dayton and Plain were erected, all of which work was,, under Col. Dayton's supervision. He also repaired and strengthened Fort Stanwix (later Schuyler) and Fort Herkimer.

Four weeks after the Tryon county militia organization was effected, a battalion of "Minute men" (scouts or rangers) was formed with George Herkimer, brother of Nicholas, as its colonel and Samuel Campbell as its lieutenant-colonel.

In the spring of 1777 Brant, with a large party of Indians, came down 'from Canada to Unadllla. Gen. Schuyler ordered Col. Herkimer to confer with Brant, as the two latter had been on friendly terms prior to the Revolution. Herkimer and 460 Tryon county militia and regular troops accordingly proceeded to Unadilla and met Brant, who had 500 well armed warriors under him; Two conferences between the two commanders were ineffectual, a conflict was narrowly avoided and the American militia returned to the Mohawk.

In 1777 occurred the establishment and organization of an independent state government (succeeding the Provincial Congress) and the framing of a constitution for the government of the commonwealth. The new "Convention of Representatives of the State of New York" met in White Plains in July and representatives were present from the then fourteen counties of the state-namely. New York, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester. The last two counties formed a part of the present state of Vermont. The members representing Tryon were: William Harper, Isaac Paris, Mr. Vedder, John Morse, Benjamin Newkirk.

Gen. Philip Schuyler, who disarmed Johnson and his followers at Johnstown in 1776, was connected with many of the military movements in this locality through being the commander of the American army of the north during the early part of the war with headquarters at Albany. He was born in Albany, 1733, and came of a Dutch family which had been prominently connected with the affairs of the city and the colony from its earliest days. Schuyler joined the British Colonial forces during the French war and became a major. Two days after the battle of Bunker Hill, congress made him a major-general and placed him in command of the northern department. In the expedition against Canada, Schuyler commanded that by way of Lake Champlain. He was compelled, owing to ill health, to relinquish his command to Montgomery after taking Isle au Noix, on Sorel river. The failure of the Canadian expedition excited much hostility to Schuyler and insinuations were made against his loyalty. This became so offensive that he sent congress his resignation which that body declined to accept in the autumn of 1776. In April, 1777, Schuyler demanded a court of Inquiry, which approved his management. During this time he had continued in command at Albany and his influence with the Indians is said to have been of great value to the American cause. Gen. Schuyler sent aid, in August, 1777, to Fort Schuyler, under Arnold, in response to the plea of Col. Willett. This was opposed by his generals in council, but his wise and prompt action saved the fort, the valley and perhaps the nation. Schuyler resisted Burgoyne's advance but was superseded by Gates at the mouth of the Mohawk, where he had taken up a fortified position in September, 1777. Thus he was robbed of the fruits of the victory at Saratoga. 1778-81 he was a member of congress and in 1789 and 1797 went to the United States senate from New York. In the New York senate he contributed largely to the code of laws adopted by the state and was an active promoter of the canal system. The Inland Lock Navigation Co. was incorporated in 1792, for the improvement of Mohawk river traffic, and Gen. Philip Schuyler was elected its president. One of his daughters married Alexander Hamilton. Schuyler died in Albany in 1804, aged 70. He is considered one of the leading figures of New York's Revolutionary period.

Lossing gives the following origin of the terms. Whig and Tory: "They were copied by us from the political vocabulary of Great Britain and were first used here to distinguish the opposing parties in the Revolution about 1770. The term originated during the reign of Charles II, or about that time. Bishop Burnet, in his History gives the following explanation: 'The southwest counties of Scotland have seldom corn [grain] enough to serve them round the year; and the northern parts, producing more than they need, those in the west come in the summer to buy at Leith the stores that come from the north; and from a word 'whiggam,' used in driving their horses, all that drove were called 'whiggamores' and shorter, 'whigs.' Now in that year after the news came down of Duke Hamilton's defeat, the ministers animated their people to rise and march to Edinburg, and then came up marching at the head of other parishes, with unheard of fury, praying and preaching all the way as they came. The Marquis of Argyle and his party came and headed them, they being about six thousand. This was called the Whiggamores' inroad, and ever after that all that opposed the courts came, in contempt, to be called Whigg; and from Scotland the word was brought into England, where it is now one of our unhappy terms of distinction. Subsequently, all whose party bias was democratic were called Whigs. The origin of the word Tory is not so well attested. The Irish malcontents, half robbers and half Insurgents, who harassed the English in Ireland at the time of the massacre in 1640, were the first to whom the epithet was applied. It was also applied to the court party as a term of reproach."

The following Is a brief resume of events and their dates preceding and contributory to the ' Revolution and also of the principal events of the war from 1775 to the summer of 1777, when hostilities began in the Mohawk valley. It is prepared with especial reference to the history of New York state.

Albany convention (of delegates from eight colonies), 1754. New York congress of 1765, called to protest against the Stamp Act of 1765; formation of the Sons of Liberty in New York city and conflict between them and British troops, Jan. 18, 1770, resulting in bloodshed (Appleton's Encyclopedia says "this irregular fighting was the real beginning of the Revolutionary war."); Boston massacre, 1770; Boston tea party. Dec. 16, 1773; organization of "Mohawks" In New York in 1773 and repetition of "Boston tea party" in New York harbor, April, 1774; Continental congress in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1773 (in reality an assemblage of the patriot committees from the different colonies), sitting also during 1774; battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775; American capture of Ticonderoga, May 10, 1778; second Continental congress. May 10, 1775; battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775; Washington made commander-in-chief of the American army, June 15, 1775; American defeat under Montgomery at Quebec, Dec. 31, 1775; declaration of independence, July 4, 1776; evacuation of Boston by British, Mar. 17, 1776; American defeat on Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776; American defeats of Fort Washington, Manhattan, and Fort Lee, New Jersey, in fall of 1776, and retreat across New Jersey; American victory at Trenton, Dec. 26, 1776; American victory of Princeton, Jan. 3, 1777; Adoption of state constitution at Kingston (Esopus) April 21, 1777, the legislators having removed there from White Plains on account of the nearness of the British force, occupying New York city; Burgoyne's British army assembled at Cumberland Point, Lake Champlain, June, 1777, and captured Crown Point, June 30, 1777; St. Leger's British army assembles at Oswego for invasion of Mohawk valley and junction with Burgoyne at Albany, July, 1777; George Clinton sworn in as governor of New York, July 31, 1777.