Massacre At Schenectady, New York 1748 - Rachel Quackenbos

This story comes from A History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times, Old French War, 1744-1748. This first account was written by Giles F. Yates, Esq., and published in the Schenectady Democrate an Reflector, April 22, 1836, was gathered from tradition then floating about among the aged people of that day, with whom Mr. Yates had an extended acquaintance.

"In the beginning of the month of July, 1748, Mr. [Daniel Toll] and his favorite servant Ryckert, went in search of some stray horses at Beukendal, a locality about three miles from this city. They soon heard as they supposed the trampling of horses; but on a nearer approach, the sound they mistook for that made by horses hoofs on the clayey ground, proceeded from the quaits with which some Indians were playing.

"Mr. Toll discovered his danger too late and fell pierced by the bullets of the French savages, for such they were. Ryckert more fortunate took to his heels and fled. He reached Schenectady in safety and told the dreadful news of the death of his master, and the presence of the enemy.

"In less than an hour about sixty volunteers were on their march to Beukendal. The greater part of these were young men & such was their zeal that they would not wait until the proper authorities had called out the Militia".

Without discipline or experience and even without a leader they hastened to the Indian Camp.

"Those in advance of the main body, before they reached the enemy were attracted by a singular sight. They saw a man resembling Mr. Toll sitting near a fence in an adjoining field and a crow flying up and down before him.

"On coming nearer they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll with a crow attached to it by a string.

"This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians fell alas! too easily into the snare laid for them and were in a few moments surrounded by the Indians who had been lying in ambush. Thus taken by surprise they lost many of their number, and some were taken prisoners before they could make good their retreat.

"They however succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. De Graaf (299-1) in the neighborhood which had been for some time deserted. But while retreating they continued to fire upon their enemy. On reaching Mr. De Graaf's house they entered, bolted the doors and ascended to the second floor. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves and thro the opening thus made fired with success at the savages and succeeded in keeping them at bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians effected his escape.

"The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight and secured their prisoner by tying him to a tree and left him alone. He succeeded in getting his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with which he was bound. On the approach of the Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen the party in Mr. De Graaf's house were relieved from their perilous situation and the enemy took up their line of march for Canada.

"On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens killed [?]: — of these we are able to give the names of Jacob Glen (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter Vrooman, John Darling, Adam Conde, ———— Van Antwerpen, Cornelius Vielè, Nicholaas De Graaf and Adrian Van Slyck: — wounded, Ryer Wemp, ———— Robinson and ———— Wilson: — prisoners, Abraham De Graaf and his son William, John Phelps, Harmon Veeder and Lewis Groot.

"The bodies of De Graaf and Glen were found lying in a close contact with their savage antagonists with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.

"The corpses were brought to Schenectady the evening of the massacre and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, being the identical one now standing on the premises of Mrs. Benjamin, in Church street. The relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred and remove them for interment."

Another narrative may be found in Drake's "Particular History" and seems to have been gleaned from various sources. It is particularly valuable as giving more names of the killed and missing than any other account.

"July 18, 1748. About three miles from Schenectady, Daniel Toll, Dirck Van Vorst and a negro went to a place called Poependal to catch their horses; but not finding the horses as they expected they went into the adjacent woods to a place called the Clay pit [Kley kuil]. They discovered Indians and attempted to escape from them, but were pursued by them and both Toll & Van Vorst where shot down, but the negro escaped. Van Vorst, though wounded was not killed but taken prisoner. The firing was heard at Maalwyck about two miles distant and the people there knowing that Toll & Van Vorst had gone for their horses suspected the occasion of the firing. This was about ten o'clock in the morning and a messenger was at once dispatched to the town where the alarm was sounded about twelve. Some of the inhabitants with a company of new levies posted there under Lieut. Darling of Connecticut in all seventy men marched out toward

Poependal cautiously searching for the enemy, as far as the lands of Simon Groot, but made no discovery of the enemy. At this point the negro before mentioned came to the party and told them where the body of his master was.

The negro was furnished with a horse and they (about forty in number) were piloted to the spot where his master lay dead; and near Poependal at Abraham De Graaf's house. They immediately entered the woods with the negro where they at once discovered the enemy in great numbers upon whom they discharged a volley with a shout. The enemy shouted in return accompanying it with a volley also. This was the commencement of a most desperate fight. All but two or three of the English stood to it manfully, although they were hemmed in on every side by the great numbers of the enemy, and fought over a space of about two acres; yet the battle ground was left in possession of the settlers. In this hand to hand encounter twelve of the inhabitants of Schenectady were killed outright, five were taken prisoners and seven of Lieut. Darlings men including himself were killed and six of them missing supposed to be taken prisoners. The news of this battle reached Albany in the evening of the same day and by midnight Lieut. Chew with one hundred English and two hundred friendly Indians were on the march for the scene of action, but to no other purpose than as showing their willingness to meet an emergency of this kind. The names of the people killed so far as ascertained were Daniel Toll, Frans Van der Bogart Jr., Jacob Glen Jr., Daniel Van Antwerpen, J. P. Van Antwerpen, Cornelis Vielen Jr., Adrian Van Slyck, Peter Vrooman, Klaas A. De Graaf, Adam Condè, John A. Bradt & John Marinus.

"There were missing, Isaac Truax, Ryer Wemp, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Vedder & Frank Conner all belonging to Schenectady. Of the soldiers seven were killed & six missing."

From these accounts it is certain that the presence of the Indians was not suspected until the first shot; — that Capt. Daniel Toll was the first victim; — that the alarm was given by his negro Ryckert — that a company of Connecticut levies under Lieut. John Darling accompanied and followed by squads of the inhabitants marched to the scene, and that after a hot engagement the Indians retreated leaving twenty of the whites dead and taking away thirteen or fourteen prisoners besides the wounded.

Considering the number of the whites engaged, their loss was very severe, amounting probably to one-third of their force.

The following is the fullest list of killed and missing that can now be given:

Killed:

John A. Bradt, Johannes Marinus, Peter Vrooman, Daniel Van Antwerpen, Cornelis Vielè, Jr., Nicolaas De Graaf, Adrian Van Slyck, Jacob Glen, Jr., Adam Condè, J. P. Van Antwerpen, Frans Van der Bogart, Capt. Daniel Toll.

Lt. John Darling, and seven of his soldiers, in all twenty men.

Wounded:

Ryer Wemp, ———— Robinson, Dirk Van Vorst, ———— Wilson.

And probably many others.

Missing — Prisoners:

John Phelps, Lewis Groot, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Frank Connor, Harman Veeder, Isaac Truax, Albert John Vedder.

And six soldiers, in all thirteen men.

After the close of hostilities Governor Clinton sent Lieut. Stoddert to Montreal to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover the captives, but with indifferent success. Among those who returned with Lieut. Stoddert were Capt. Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman, Peter Vasborough [Vosburgh], Albert Vedder and Francis Connor. Efforts were made to induce others to return but without success; of these were Rachel Quackenbos, Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen. Rachel Quackenbos (abjured renounce, repudiate, or retract) the English religion and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to return. Fort and Phillipse also desired to remain with the Iroquois; the former belonged by adoption to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van Schaick offered six hundred livres for Fort without succeeding in obtaining him. On the contrary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain him, that she said she would obey the French commandant and deliver him up, but that she and her husband would follow him, and he should not reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on the 28th June, 1750, with twenty-four prisoners.

Dr. Quackenbush In Africa - 1911

Movie: Comedy, 1942, Color, 60 minutes This famous ski comedy follows Dr. Quackenbush to Cranmore, Wildcat and Tuckerman. Filmed by Sidney Shurcliff in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, this famous comedy classic follows the misadventures of Dr. Erasmus B. Quackenbush from Mt. Cranmore to the Wildcat Race Trail to the heights of Tuckerman Ravine’s legendary Headwall. Historic footage, spectacular skiing, “hill”arious comedy and a vintage musical score make this film great entertainment for the entire family. Filmed on Mt. Washington, Dr. Quackenbush (John Marshall) encounters famous ski personalities of the day such as Hannes Schneider, Harvey Dow Gibson, Toni Matt, Benno Rybizka, and Joe Dodge.

Wyntje Quackenbosch - Fearless Messenger For General George Washington

Abraham Mabie was born December 28, 1731 in Orangetown (Now Tappan), Orange County, New York. He died in Orangetown in 1805. He was a Private in Captain Blaulevt’s Company, Rockland Company Militia, and in Captain Hags Regiment. His second wife was Wyntje Quackenbosch (Quackenbush), born November 21, 1742. Wyntje married Abraham on May 5, 1773 in Harleem, New York. Wyntje’s husband, Abraham was serving under General Anthony Wayne during the storming of Stony Point in July 1779.

Wyntje served as a messenger for General Washington during the Revolutionary War. In November of 1776 she rode by horse from her farm in Orangetown (Tappan), New York to Fort Lee, New Jersey, then using a rowboat, rowed herself across the Hudson River to retrieve papers from Washington’s former headquarters at the Roger Morris House (Morris-Jumel Mansion). She then rowed back across the Hudson River and delivered the papers to General Washington at his new headquarters in Hackensack, New Jersey.

The documents contained names of volunteer troop replacements and suppliers which allowed General Washington to quickly restore his defenses after having his army reduced to 6,000 troops in just a few short months after the British invaded New York City in August 1776. The documents aided General Washington in his first major victory at Trenton in December 1776.

Robert Quackenbush, the noted author and illustrator of over 150 books for young readers is a direct descendant of Wyntje Quackenbosch. One of Robert’s books is called “Daughter of Liberty” and is based on the above story of his great, great, great, great Aunt Wyntje. Robert stated, “For me, writing Wyn Mabie’s story meant verifying through research a story that had been passed down in my family since the Revolutionary War. Then I linked the details of her mission with precise events and the time they occurred.

This research took nearly twenty years to complete before I wrote and illustrated the finished book, which took one year. My purpose for creating Daughter of Liberty was to confirm a life that had become a legend, by restoring Wyn Mabie and her heroism to the book of life.”

The Inventive Genius Of Henry Marcus Quackenbush

Imagine life today without an extension ladder, a bicycle, a scroll saw, darts, the nut cracker and picks, or an air rifle! It just wouldn't be the same, would it? Well, thanks to the brilliant inventive genius of Henry Marcus Quackenbush we never had to, or so many other things he invented. Read on to learn more about this man of vision.

Henry Marcus Quackenbush was born April 27, 1847 in Herkimer, New York. His brother and sister were scholarly but Henry preferred to tinker with mechanical components. At age 14 he began an apprenticeship with Remington Arms the gun maker, where he acquired the skills of an expert metalworker and gunmaker. In 1867, he began inventing and marketing his own devices. His first successful invention was the extension ladder. He sold the patent for $500.

Quackenbush set out to start his own company in 1871 and established the H. M. Quackenbush Co. He invented an air gun that became a very popular and is still very collectible and sought after today. He sold the patents for the gun to the Pope Brothers of Boston, who built and sold the product.

His company developed and made many products, ranging from rifles and sport firearms to kitchen gadgets and seafood tools. In 1876, Quackenbush designed the very popular .22 caliber Safety Rifle. In the 1880's, he began mass production of "gallery guns" and the Quackenbush name appeared in shooting galleries across the country.

His most famous and most successful inventions came in 1878, when he created the first nutcracker and nutpick. Patented in 1913, the spring-jointed nutcracker, a nickel-plated, solid steel nutcracker with four picks became very popular in households. Nearly 200 million of these nutcrackers have been sold worldwide since then. The Quackenbush company stopped making guns in the 1930's, but continued to make nutpicks and nutcrackers. Henry Marcus Quackenbush died in 1933, The following year his business was incorporated in New York as H. M. Quackenbush Inc. and the company moved into a new phase of success, run by Quackenbush family members. It was instrumental in manufacturing supplies during WWII, including bullet cores, shell casings and other screw machine products.

In 1979, H. M. Quackenbush Inc. acquired the assets of Utica Plating Co. Marketing and distribution of nutcrackers and related products transferred to M. E. Heuck Co., Cincinnati, OH, leaving metal finishing as primary line of business. The enterprise became the HMQ Metal Finishing Group LLC in 1998.

H.M Quackenbush, Inc. consisted of the following businesses:

• HMQ Metal Finishing Group, L.L.C.
• HMQ Chemtech, L.L.C.
• HMQ National Plating, L.L.C.

In the spring of 2005 H.M. Quackenbush, Inc. filed for Bankruptcy protection in New York. The company assets were purchased by a competitor in the plating industry and the company closed it's doors.

According to the U.S. Patent Office, Henry is responsible for creating the following inventions:

• Bicycle
• Foot-powered wood lathe
• scroll saw
• darts
• stair rails
• extension ladder
• bathroom shelf
• nut cracker and pick
• .22 caliber rim-fire rifle (3 models including a bicycle rifle)
• air rifle/pistol
• ammunition for his airguns including lead air rifle shot (BB's), felted slugs, and darts.
• Kaleidoscope
• garment hanger

In addition to the items he invented, he also had to invent the machinery needed to produce the items in a consistent manner for the consumers he served.

The H. M. Quackenbush factory, a four-story building with a tower, was constructed in 1890 on Prospect Street and employed 100 men. Gun manufacturing ended after World War I. During World War II, war-related products were produced. In 1987, a large building was added on North Main Street to house the electroplating business.

Nut Cracker

Nancy (Quackinbush) Van Alstine - Guardian Of The Mohawk Valley

Nancy (Quackinbush) Van Alstine is spoken of at length in Mrs. Elizabeth's F. Ellet's "Women of the Revolution," Volume III, page 328.

Introduction (part of Preface): "The history of our race is the record mainly of men's achievements, in war, in statecraft and diplomacy. If mention is made of woman it is of queens and intriguing beauties who ruled and schemed for power and riches, and often worked mischief and ruin by their wiles.

The story of woman's work in great migrations has been told only in lines and passages where it ought instead to fill volumes. Here and there incidents and anecdotes scattered through a thousand tomes [sic] give us glimpses of the wife, the mother, or the daughter as a heroine or as an angel of kindness and goodness, but most of her story is a blank which never will be filled up. And yet it is precisely in her position as a pioneer and colonizer that her influence is the most potent and her life story most interesting....."

The traveler of today, passing up the Mohawk Valley will be struck by its fertility, beauty, and above all by the air of quiet repose that broods over it. One hundred years ago how different the scene! It was then the battle-ground where the fierce Indian waged an incessant warfare with the frontier settlers. Every rood of that fair valley was trodden by the wily and sanguinary foe. The people who then inhabited that region were a mixture of adventurous New Englanders and of Dutch, with a preponderance of the latter, who were a brave, steadfast, hardy race; the women vieing with the men in deeds of heroism and devotion.

Womanly tact and presence of mind was often as serviceable amid those scenes of danger and carnage, as valor in combat; and when woman combined these traits of her sex with courage and firmness she became the "guardian angel" of the settlement.

Such preminently was the title deserved by Mrs. Nancy (Quackinbush) Van Alstine, the "Patriot mother of the Mohawk Valley".

All the early part of her long life, (for she counted nearly a century of years before she died) was passed on the New York frontier, during the most trying period of our colonial history. Here, dwelling in the midst of alarms, she reared fifteen children; here more than once she saved the lives of her husband and family, and by her ready wit, her daring courage, and her open handed generosity shielded the settlement from harm.

Born near Canajoharie, about the year 1733, and married Martin J. Van Alstine, at the age of eighteen, she settled with her husband in the valley of the Mohawk, where the newly wedded pair occupied the Van Alstine mansion.

In the month of August, 1780, an army of Indians and Tories, led on by Brant, rushed into the Mohawk Valley, devastated several settlements, and killed many of the inhabitants; during the two following months, Sir John Johnson made a descent and finished the work which Brant had begun. The two almost completely destroyed the settlements throughout the valley. It was during those trying times that Mrs. Van Alstine performed a portion of her exploits.

During these three months, and while the hostile forces were making their headquarters at Johnstown, the neighborhood in which Mrs. Van Alstine lived enjoyed a remarkable immunity from attack, although in a state of continual alarm. Intelligence at length came that the enemy, having ravaged the surrounding country, was about to fall upon the little settlement, and the inhabitants, for the most women and children, were almost besides themselves with terror.

Mrs. Van Alstine's coolness and intrepidity, in this critical hour, were quickly displayed. Calling her neighbors together, she tried to relieve their fears and urged them to remove with their effects to an island belonging to her husband, near the opposite side of the river, believing that the savages would either not discover their place of refuge or would be in too great haste to cross the river and attack them.

Her suggestion was speedily adopted, and in a few hours the seven families in the neighborhood were removed to their asylum, together with a store of provisions and other articles essential to their comfort. Mrs. Van Alstine was the last to cross and assisted to place out of reach of the enemy, the boat in which the passage had been made. An hour after they had been all snugly bestowed in their bushy retreat, the war-whoop was heard and the Indians made their appearance. Gazing from their hiding place the unfortunate women and children soon saw their loved homes in flames, Mrs. Van Alstine's house alone being spared, owing to the friendship borne the owner by Sir John Johnson.

The voices and even the words of the Indian raiders could be distinctly heard on the island, and as Mrs. Van Alstine gazed at the mansion untouched by the flames she rejoiced that she would now be able to give shelter to the homeless families by whom she was surrounded. In the following year the Van Alstine mansion was pillaged by the Indians, and although the house was completely stripped of furniture and provisions and clothing, none of the family were killed or carried away as prisoners.

The Indians came upon them by surprise, entered the house without ceremony, and plundered and destroyed everything in their way. "Mrs. Van Alstine saw her most valued articles, brought from Holland, broken one after another, till the house was strewed with fragments. As they passed a large mirror without demolishing it, she hoped it might be saved; but presently two of the savages led in a colt from the stables and the glass being laid in the hall, compelled the animal to walk over it. The beds which they could not carry away they ripped open, shaking out the feathers and taking the ticks with them. They also took all the clothing. One young Indian, attracted by the brilliancy of a pair of inlaid buckles on the shoes of the aged grandmother seated in the corner, rudely snatched them from her feet, tore off the buckles, and flung the shoes in her face. Another took her shawl from her neck, threatening to kill her if resistance was offered."

The eldest daughter, seeing a young savage carrying off a basket containing a hat and cap her father had brought her from Philadelphia, and which she highly prized, followed him, snatched her basket, and after a struggle succeeded in pushing him down. She then fled to a pile of hemp and hid herself, throwing the basket as far as she could. The other Indians gathered round, and as the young girl rose clapped their hands, shouting, "Brave girl", while he skulked away to escape their derision. During the struggle Mrs. Van Alstine had called to her daughter to give up the contest; but she insisted that her basket should not be taken.

Winter coming on, the family suffered severely from want of bedding, woolen clothes, cooking utensils, and numerous other articles which had been taken from them. Mrs. Van Alstine's arduous and constant labors could do but little toward providing for so many destitute persons. Their neighbors were in no condition to help them; the roads were almost impassable besides infested with Indians, and all their best horses had been driven away.

This situation appealing continually to Mrs. Van Alstine as a wife and a mother, so wrought upon her as to induce her to propose to her husband to organize an expedition, and attempt to recover their property from the Indian forts eighteen or twenty miles distant, where it had been carried. But the plan seemed scarcely feasible at the time, and was therefore abandoned.

The cold soon became intense and their necessities more desperate than ever. Mrs. Van Alstine, incapable longer of witnessing the sufferings of those dependent upon her, boldly determined to go herself to the Indian country and bring back the property. Firm against all the entreaties of her husband and children who sought to move her from her purpose, she left home with a horse and sleigh accompanied by her son, a youth of sixteen.

Pushing on over wretched roads and through the deep snow she arrived at her destination at a time when the Indians were all absent on a hunting excursion, the women and children only being left at home. On entering the principal house where she supposed the most valuable articles were, she was met by an old squaw in charge of the place and asked what she wanted. "Food", she replied; the squaw sullenly commenced preparing a meal and in doing so brought out a number of utensils that Mrs. Van Alstine recognized as her own. While the squaw's back was turned she took possession of the articles and removed them to her sleigh. When the custodian of the plunder discovered that it was being reclaimed, she was about to interfere forcibly with the bold intruders and take the property into her possession. But Mrs. Van Alstine showed her a paper which she averred was an order signed by "Yankee Peter", a man of great influence among the savages, and succeeded in convincing the squaw that the property was removed by his authority.

She next proceeded to the stables and cut the halters of the horses belonging to her husband: the animals recognized their mistress with loud neighs and bounded homeward at full speed. The mother and son then drove rapidly back to their house. Reaching home late in the evening they passed a sleepless night, dreading an instant pursuit and a night attack from the infuriated savages.

The Indians came soon after daylight in full war-costume armed with rifles and tomahawks. Mrs. Van Alstine begged her husband not to show himself but to leave the matter in her hands. The Indians took their course to the stables when they were met by the daring woman alone and asked what they wanted. "Our horses", replied the marauder. "They are ours", she said boldly, "and we aim to keep them".

The chief approached in a threatening manner, and drawing her away pulled out the plug that fastened the door to the stable, but she immediately snatched it from his hand, and pushing him away resumed her position in front of the door. Presenting his rifle, he threatened her with instant death if she did not immediately move. Opening her neck-handkerchief she told him to shoot if he dared.

The Indians, cowed by her daring, or fearing punishment from their allies in case they killed her, after some hesitation retired from the premises. They afterwards related their adventures to one of the settlers, and said that were fifty such women as she in the settlement, the Indians never would have molested the inhabitants of the Mohawk Valley.

On many subsequent occasions Mrs. Van Alstine exhibited the heroic qualities of her nature. Twice by her prudence, courage, and address, she saved the lives of her husband and family. Her influence in settling difficulties with the savages was acknowledged throughout the region, and but for her it may well be doubted whether the little settlement in which she lived would have been able to sustain itself, surrounded as it was by deadly foes.

Her influence was felt in another and higher way. She was a Christian woman, and her husband's house was opened for religious worship every Sunday when the weather would permit. She was able to persuade many of the Indians to attend, and as she had acquired their language, she was wont to interpret to them the word of God and what was said by the minister. Many times their rude hearts were touched, and the tears rolled down their swarthy faces, while she dwelt on the wondrous story of our Redeemer's life and death, and explained how the white man and the red man alike could be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In after years the savages blessed her as their benefactress.

Nearly a hundred summers have passed since the occurrence of the events we have been describing. The war-whoop of the cruel Mohawk sounds no more from the forest-ambush, nor in the clearing; the dews and rains have washed away the red stains on the soft sward, and green and peaceful in the sunshine lies the turf by the beautiful river and on the grave where the patriot mother is sleeping; but still in in the memory of the sons and daughters of the region she once blessed, lives the courage, the firmness, and the goodness of Nancy (Quackinbush) Van Alstine, the guardian of the Mohawk Valley.

Source: Mrs. Elizabeth's F. Ellet's "Women of the Revolution," Volume III, page 328.

The True-born "Sons of Liberty" or How A Quackenbush started the first battle of the Revolutionary War

Would it surprise you to know that one of our ancestors was directly responsible for provoking the very first battle of the Revolutionary War and was himself a member of the Sons of Liberty?

The Sons of Liberty, or Liberty Boys as they were sometimes called were a group of American patriots originating in the British colonies prior to the Revolutionary War. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists and to take to the streets against the taxes by the British government. They are best known for the Boston Tea Party in 1773, which led to the Intolerable Acts (an intense crackdown by the British government).

The group was shrouded in secrecy and historians debate its origins, but the group existed throughout most of colonial America. Some historical sources claim that the movement began in New York City in January 1765. A more popular claim is that the movement began in Boston, Massachusetts through the leadership of one Samuel Adams in early 1765.

Tradition has it that the Boston chapter gathered beneath the Liberty Tree for meetings while the New York City chapter met beneath the Liberty Pole for its meetings. For reasons of safety and secrecy, Sons of Liberty groups tended to meet late at night so as not to attract attention and detection of British officials and the American Loyalist supporters of the British Crown.

According to Adriana Suydam Quackenbush in her book "The Quackenbush Family In Holland and America",1871, Wouter or Walter Quackenboss, of New York City, was an ardent "Son of Liberty" and figured conspicuously in the defense of the Liberty Pole, which had been set up on the Common to commemorate the repeal of the Stamp Act. Many attempts on the part of the British troops to destroy this emblem of liberty had been thwarted by the "Sons," which so irritated the British that they caused a scurrilous placard to be printed and posted in public places, assailing the " Liberty Boys " individually and collectively. The story is as follows:

Battle of Golden Hill


 

The battle of Golden Hill is regarded as "First Blood" in the Revolutionary War or War Of Independence. It is the first confrontation in which serious injures were taken by both the British and the colonists. New Yorkers battled with troops attempting to cut down the Liberty Pole on Golden Hill (in present-day downtown Manhattan) three previous poles having been destroyed by British troops since 1766.

On Saturday Night the 13th Instant [of this month], about eight o'clock, a Party of Soldiers, near forty in Number, began to execute a Design [plan] they had formed to cut down the Liberty Pole. To effect this with the greater Safety, they placed Sentinels in the different Roads that lead to it and the most public Places to discover any Number of the Inhabitants that should be making towards the Pole to obstruct them. In this Situation they were discovered sawing the Spurs by some Persons that were crossing the Fields, who went into Mr. Montanye’s and reported it to sundry [several] Persons in the House. Captain White was attacked near the House by a Soldier who drew his Bayonet on him and threatened to take his Life if he alarmed [warned] the Citizens, upon which the Soldier returned to his Companions at the Pole. The People at Mr. Montanye’s came out and called out Fire in order to alarm the Inhabitants. Soon after a Fire was seen at the Pole, which proved to be a Fuse that the Soldiers had put in it in order to communicate Fire to a Cavity which they had made in the Pole and filled with Powder, with a Design to split it. The Fuse did not communicate [start] the Fire, nor do the Execution that was expected, which the People at Mr. Montanye’s observing, hissed at the Soldiers, and as the former had but just before called out Fire, the latter considered it as a Taunt on their abortive [failed] Labor.

These Sons of Mars [British soldiers] could not brook [tolerate] the least Sign of Satisfaction in the Citizens at their heroic Attack on a Pole’s proving unsuccessful. No, they, unprovoked, determined on a more heroic Action, which was to storm Mr. Montanye’s House, and accordingly entered it with drawn Swords and Bayonets, insulted the Company and beat the Waiter. Not satisfied with this mal-Treatment, they proceeded to destroy every Thing they could conveniently come at. They broke Eighty-four Panes of Glass, two Lamps and two Bowls, after which they quitted the House with Precipitation [haste] lest any of them should be discovered.

After a British officer sent a guard to the pole, no further violence occurred that night. Three days later, however, British soldiers succeeded in exploding the pole and placing its remnants at the door of Mr. Montanye. Tensions escalated until Friday, the 19th, when two “Sons of Liberty” attempted to stop British troops who were posting a handbill around the city.

The Soldiers, still bent on further Insults to the Citizens, on Friday the 19th published the following Paper and went in Posses through the Streets, putting them up at the most public Places of the City, and threw some of them into the Mayor’s Entry.

God and a Soldier all men doth adore
In Time of War, and not before:When the War is over, and all Things righted,
God is forgotten, and the Soldier slighted.

WHEREAS an uncommon and riotous disturbance prevails throughout this city by some of its inhabitants, who style themselves the S⎯⎯s of L⎯⎯⎯y, but rather may more properly be called real enemies to society, and whereas the army, now quartered in New York, are represented in a heinous light to their officers and other, for having propagated a disturbance in this city by attempting to destroy their Liberty Pole in the Fields, which, being now complete, without the assistance of the army, we have reason to laugh at them and beg the public only to observe how chagrin’d those pretended S_ _s of L_ _ _ _ _y look as they pass through the streets, especially as these great heroes thought their freedom depended on a piece of wood . . . .





[It] is well known since their [troops’] arrival in New York they have watched night and day for the safety and protection of the city and its inhabitants; [they] have suffered the rays of the scorching sun in summer and the severe colds of freezing snowy nights in winter, which must be the case, and fifty times worse had there been a war, which we sincerely pray for in hopes those S_ _s of L_ _ _y may feel the effects of it, with famine and destruction pouring on their heads. . . .[Addressed to the public for which, may the shame they mean to brand our names with, stick on theirs. Signed by the 16th Regiment of Foot [Infantry].

Mr. Isaac Sears and Mr. Walter (Wouter) Quackenbos, seeing six or several Soldiers going towards the Fly Market, concluded they were going to it to put up some of the above Papers [handbills]. Mr. Sears seized the Soldier that was fixing the Paper by the Collar and asked him what Business he had to put up Libels against the Inhabitants? and that he would carry him before the Mayor. Mr. Quackenbos took hold of one that had the Papers on his Arm. A Soldier standing to the Right of Mr. Sears drew his Bayonet, upon which the latter took a Ram’s Horn and threw it at the former, which struck him in the Head, and then the Soldiers, except the two that were seized, made off and alarmed others in the Barracks. They immediately carried the two to the Mayor and assigned him the Reason of their bringing them before him. The Mayor sent for Alderman Desbrosses to consult on what would be proper to be done in the Matter. In the mean Time, a considerable Number of People collected opposite to the Mayor’s. Shortly after, about twenty Soldiers with Cutlasses and Bayonets from the lower Barracks made their Appearance, coming to the Mayor’s through the main Street. When they came opposite to Mr. Peter Remsen’s, he endeavored to dissuade them from going any further (supposing they were going to the Mayor’s) representing to them that they would get into a Scrape, but his Advice was not taken, owing, as he supposes, to one of two of their Leaders who seemed to be intoxicated.

The People collected at the Mayor’s determined to let them pass by peaceably and unmolested, and opened for them to go through. Captain Richardson and some of the Citizens, judging they intended to take the two Soldiers from the Mayor’s by force, went to his Door to prevent it. When the Soldiers came opposite to his House, they halted. Many of them drew their Swords and Bayonets; some say they all drew. But all that were present agree that many did, and faced about to the Door and demanded the Soldiers in Custody. Some of them attempted to get into the House to rescue them. Capt. Richardson and others at the Door prevented them, and desired them to put up their Arms and go to their Barracks, that the Soldiers were before the Mayor who would do them Justice. The Soldiers within likewise desired them to go away to their Barracks and leave them to the Determination of the Mayor.

Upon the Soldiers drawing their Arms, many of the Inhabitants, conceiving themselves in Danger, ran to some Sleighs that were near and pulled out some of the Rungs. The Mayor and Alderman Desbrosses came out and ordered the Soldiers to their Barracks. After some Time, they moved up the Fly. The People were apprehensive that, as the Soldiers had drawn their Swords at the Mayor’s House and thereby condemned the Civic Authority and declared War against the Inhabitants, it was not safe to let them go through the Streets alone lest they might offer Violence to some of the Citizens: To prevent which they followed them and two Magistrates aforesaid to the Corner of Golden Hill, and in their going, several of the [obscured] reasoned with them on the Folly of their drawing [obscured] Swords, and endeavored to persuade them to sheath them, assuring them no Mischief was intended them, [obscured] without Success.

They turned up Golden Hill and about the Time they gained the Summit, a considerable Number of Soldiers joined them, which inspired them to reinsult the Magistrates and exasperate the Inhabitants, which was soon manifested by their facing about, and one in Silk Stockings and neat Buckskin Breeched (who is suspected to have been an Officer in Disguise) giving the Word of Command, “Soldiers draw your Bayonets and cut your Way through them.” The former was immediately obeyed, and they called out, “Where are your Sons of Liberty now?” and fell on the Citizens with great Violence, cutting and slashing. This convinced them that their Apprehensions were well founded, for although no Insult or Violence had been offered to the former, yet instead of going peaceably to their Barracks, as they were ordered by the Magistrates, they in Defiance of their Authority (Veteran-like) drew their Arms to attack Men who, except six or seven that had Clubs and Sticks, were naked [unarmed]. These few that had the Sticks maintained their Ground in the narrow Passage in which they stood and defended their defenseless Fellow Citizens for some Time against the furious and unmanly Attacks of armed Soldiers, until one of them missing his Aim, in a Stroke made at one of the Assailants, lost his Stick, which obliged the former to retreat to look for some Instrument of Defense. The Soldiers pursued him down to the main Street. One of them made a Stroke with a Cutlass at Mr. Francis Field, one of the People called Quakers, standing in an inoffensive Posture in Mr. Field’s Door, at the Corner, and cut him on the Right Cheek, and if the Corner had not broke the Stroke, it would have probably killed him. This Party that came down to the main Street cut a Tea-Water Man driving his Cart, and a Fisherman’s Finger. In short, they madly attacked every Person that they could reach, and their Companions on Golden Hill were more inhuman, for, besides cutting a Sailor’s Head and Finger [who] was defending himself against them, they stabbed another with a Bayonet, going about his Business, so badly that his Life was thought in Danger.

Not satisfied with all this Cruelty, two of them followed a Boy going for Sugar into Mr. Elsworth’s House. One of them cut him on the Head with a Cutlass, and the other made a Lunge with a Bayonet at the Woman in the Entry, that answered the Child. Capt. Richardson was violently attacked by two of the Soldiers with Swords, and expected to have been cut to pieces but was so fortunate as to defend himself with a Stick for a considerable Time ’till a Halbert was put into his hands, with which he could have killed several of them, but he made no other Use of it than to defend himself and his naked Fellow Citizens. . .

From all which I think it is evident that the Inhabitants only acted on the Defensive. Capt. Richardson was a Witness of all that passed, from the Soldiers coming to the Mayor’s Door, and declares that if they had not halted and acted as they did on Golden Hill, he verily believes there would not have been any Mischief done. Some Time after the Commencement of the grand Affray on the Golden Hill, a Posse of Soldiers came down from another Quarter, opposite to the Street that leads down from the Hill, and called out to the Soldiers on the Hill “to cut their Way down, and they would meet them half Way.” During the Action on the Hill, a small Party of Soldiers came along the Fly by the Market and halted near Mr. Norwood’s. Some of the Inhabitants gathered round them when a Conversation ensued on the then Disturbances. Soon after, the former drew their Bayonets, upon which, as the Citizens were all unarmed, they cast about to look for Stones or some Instruments to defend themselves; but the Soldiers observing that they could not find any Thing, one of them made an Attempt to stab Mr. John White who, finding himself in imminent Danger, judged it most safe to take Flight toward the Mayor’s. The Soldier pursued him with his drawn Bayonet and made several Attempts when he thought Mr. White within his reach to stab him, but in crossing the Gutter the Soldier fell, which gave the designed Victim an opportunity to escape or, in the Opinion of all present, he would certainly have fallen a Sacrifice to the unprovoked, malevolent and merciless Rage of his Pursuer. Several of the Soldiers that were on the Hill were much bruised, and one of them badly cut. Soon after the above Attack, many of the Magistrates collected from different Quarters of the City, and several of the Officers being made acquainted with the Affray, came to the Places of Action and dispersed the Soldiers.

Thus ended a Riot which would have been productive of much worse Consequences had the Citizens been armed. In the Evening the Soldiers cut one Lamp Lighter on the Head and drew the Ladder from under another while he was lighting the Lamps. On Saturday the Twentieth, a Soldier made an attempt to stab a Woman coming from Market with a Bundle of Fish, run his Bayonet through her Cloak and Body Clothes. About Noon, at the Head of Chapel Street an Affray began between some Sailors and Soldiers, the Origin of which I have not been able with certainty to find out. . . . The Mayor, giving over all hopes of quelling the Riot, had moved off from the Place of Action in order to bring the Officers out, but some of the Citizens requested him not to quit the Fields and leave the Soldiers with their Arms to destroy the Inhabitants, upon which he returned, and soon after a great Body of People was coming up the Broad-Way which, the Soldiers seeing, they went off to their Barracks. A Report being spread through the City that the Soldiers had rushed out of their Barracks and were slaughtering the Inhabitants in the Fields soon brought out a great Number of the Citizens to the New Gaol [jail]. While they were inquiring into the Cause of the Riot, a Number of Soldiers, not more than Twenty, came up from the lower Barracks and marched through a considerable Body of the Inhabitants collected along the Street (to the South of the Presbyterian Meeting) that leads to the Gaol, when they might very easily have avoided them and taken a Route to the Barracks across the Fields, where none of the Citizens stood, which would not have endangered or exposed them to a Riot, if they were not disposed to it. The People there opened and let them pass. When they got near through, a greater Body standing to the Southward of the Gaol Fence, one of the Soldiers, in the Presence of a very reputable Person, snatched a Stick from one of the Bystanders; others say that a Sword was taken from another. This brought on anew Affray which lasted about two Minutes, cutting and slashing on both Sides when, the Soldiers finding themselves roughly handled, they made the best of their Way to the Barracks, and some of the Inhabitants pursued them to the Gates, and one of them took a bayonet from a Soldier. In this Scuffle, one of the Citizens was wounded in the Face and had two of his Teeth broke by a Stroke of a Bayonet. A Soldier received a bad Cut on the Shoulder. These are the principal Wounds that the Combatants sustained. . . .

To conclude, it’s evident that there has been Blood spilt on both Sides. I therefore submit it to my Superiors whether the Reputation of the Citizens or of the Soldiers can be incontestably vindicated, and indubitable Information thereof given to the Government at Home, unless there is a general legal inquiry into the Whole of these Disturbances. The Inhabitants that were active are desirous that such an Examination should be made, and, as there are sufficient Mediums of Proof to begin it, if it is not done, the World will be at no Loss to what Cause to attribute the Neglect of it, and where all this Mischief first originated.

Jan. 31, 1770 AN IMPARTIAL CITIZEN
Newspaper Article