Stories from early New York history

Front matter

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Preface

THE history of our state is not well known by its own sons and daughters. There is little opportunity for our boys and girls to become acquainted with it. Its story is very briefly and imperfectly told in our school histories. This perhaps is necessarily so. It is because the author feels the need of having the history of the more important events that have occurred in our state known to the boys and girls who are growing up that this volume has been written.

The early inhabitants of New England kept diaries and their descendants have written histories, consequently the part that New England, particularly Massachusetts, took in the development of our country has been fully, possibly a little boastfully, told by the loyal descendants of those who contributed so much toward making the history of our country glorious.

On the other hand the early Dutch in New York did their duty as they saw it, fought if called upon to do so, then went back to their homes, sat and smoked their pipes, and said little or nothing of their deeds. They kept no diaries. Their descendants have not written histories; so the story of the battle of Golden Hill has not been told, as has that of the Boston Massacre, which occurred later. The story of the battle of Bunker Hill is told everywhere, and "every school boy knows it, but the far more important battle of Oriskany is barely mentioned in any of our school histories, and not viii PREFACE

at all in some of them, therefore it is unknown to the great mass of our people. So it is with much of the history of the Empire State. Give Massachusetts full credit for her glorious record, she deserves it, but let not the trials, sufferings, and noble achievements of the people of our own state be forgotten. No other state has so noble and so glorious a history.

This little book has been written in the hope of arousing such an interest in our early history that all our boys and girls will desire to know it. Our young people should be proud of our state. They will be if they know its history.

One who is proud of his state, of his race, of his family, of the community in which he lives, is a better neighbor, a more creditable member of his family, reflects more honor on his race, and is a better citizen because of such pride.

I would have our boys and girls know the history of our state that they may know how much they owe to those who did so much to make possible such lives as we now live. I should like them to know the hardships of the frontier life that had to b^ borne, that we might have the comforts which we possess. When we recall the fact that only a little over a hundred years ago half our people lived in log huts; that window glass was a luxury, even in the towns; that some used oiled paper in the place of glass, but that the larger number had no natural light in their houses save that which came through open doors or shutters; that carpets of any kind were rare luxuries ; that there were few cooking utensils, no stoves, and few conveniences of any sort; and no furniture but the rude kind ide by those who used it, we shall have some comprehension of

i we owe to our forefathers.

PREFACE ix

The making of our state has not been the work of a single people, or a single creed, or a single set of political principles. In the early days both Whig and Tory aided in its upbuilding. Jew, Catholic and Protestant have contributed to its welfare. English, Dutch, Irish, Scotch, German, Welsh, French, and other nationalities have all been indispensable to the best outcome. All these people; their diversity of religious thought; their difference in political convictions, have, when properly regarded and used, helped to make a great state and a great people.

Contents

PACK

New Netherland . . . . . i

Who Discovered the Hudson ?

III III

129 130

131 136

159 159 160

CONTENTS xui

Wyoming

German Flatts

Cherry Valley

The Battle of Minisink

Canajoharie

The Schoharie Valley

Burgoyne's Invasion .

The Battle of Bennington

Jane McCrea .

The Battle of Oriskany

TiCONDEROGA

The Niagara Frontier Prideaux's Expedition Devil's Hole Massacre

West Point and the Lower Hudson Andre ......

The Military School at West Point

PAGE

160 162

163 165 167

188 193 195 199

209 210 210

211 211 212

215 215

219 220

225 231 232

235 238 247

XIV

CONTENTS

Kingston

Albany ....

Newburg

Two Noted Houses

Along Lake Champlain

Through the Mohawk Valley The Beukendaal Fight Fort Hunter auriesville Tribes Hill The Butler House Stone Arabia .

Fonda

Canajoharie The Palatines Palatine Fort Plain The Palatine Church Danube Steuben German Flatts Little Falls .

Fort Stanwix During the Revolution

Appendix .