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Archiver > Dutch-Colonies > 2003-06 > 1055551426


From: "Michael D. Bathrick" <>
Subject: RE: [D-Col] Rufugees of Schoonechtede?
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 20:43:55 -0400
In-Reply-To: <002a01c33204$f284e700$48fe3344@D7W9D811>


That would have been the Schenectady Massacre of February 1690.

Robert Livingston wrote:

This sad story should not pass from our memory but remain engraved on it
and we should grieve over our sins rather than bewail our loss, for it
is clearly shown that when the measure of our iniquities is full, we are
cut down and almost exterminated, of which the present smoking ruins of
houses and barns bear ample witness before the eyes of our few remaining
people. As to the causes of this bloody war, which they pretend
originated with us, jealousy arising from the trading of our
people...seems to be the principal one, for the Indians, that is to say,
the Five Nations, were very friendly disposed toward us. The French
begrudged us this and therefore made every effort to make them hostile
to us.... The French...invited several Indians to come into
the[ir]...fort to be entertained...but they met with a different
reception, for as soon as they entered the fort they were bound securely
and carried off to Cubeck [Quebec], to the number of 60.... Having at
once assembled an army, [the French]...marched against the
Indians...with the intention of destroying them, but this failed. The
Indians were so embittered by this that like madmen they fell upon the
French farmers, murdering and burning to revenge this breach of faith,
so that many suffered great loss and damage. Showing themselves greatly
perturbed about this and holding us responsible for it...they [the
French] found and cruelly murdered the Dutch, saying: "The Dutch are
urging you to fight against us, therefore we shall excuse you"....

The bloodthirsty people [the French and their Indian allies], then, to
accomplish their evil purpose, according to their own statement made the
journey from Canada to this place in 11 days.... They divided themselves
into three troops and after they had everything well spied out and found
that the gates were open and that nowhere there was any sentinel on duty
and that on account of the heavy snow which had fallen the day before no
one had been in the woods by whom they could have been detected, the
full wrath of God was poured out over us. Having posted three or four
men before every house, they attacked simultaneously at the signal of a
gun. They first set fire to the house of Adam Vroman, who when he
offered resistance was shot through the hand. After several shots had
been fired, his wife, hoping to find an opportunity to get away, opened
the back door, whereupon she was immediately shot dead and devoured by
the flames.... His eldest daughter...had her mother's child on her
arm.... Asked...whether the child was heavy...she said yes, whereupon
[one of the invaders]...took the child form her and taking it by the
legs dashed its head against the sill of the house, so that the brains
scattered over the bystanders....

The women and children fled mostly into the woods, almost naked and
there many froze to death.... Oh, we poor, miserable people, how we were
scattered during that dreadful night, the husband being separated from
his wife and the children from both, one hiding for 2 or 3 days in the
woods and in swampy and marshy land, where God in His mercy nevertheless
did not forget them....

The rest, then, who escaped the bloody sword, were condemned to be
prisoners, but here again God's guiding hand clearly appears, for many
sorrowful women and children and some old men, seeing this dreadful
journey ahead of them, which meant practically death, doubtless offered
up their prayers to God, who from the depths of their woe granted them
delivery.... Considering that the old men and children and also the
women would be a hindrance to them in their flight, they [the French and
their allies] discharged them from their place of confinement to the
great joy of all....

In all as many as 60 people have been murdered by these fiends and 40
houses and 22 barns, all filled with cattle, have been almost completely
destroyed.

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm?doc=238

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 7:39 PM
To:
Subject: [D-Col] Rufugees of Schoonechtede?


Hi
I came across a translation of a document dated 28 March 1690 Albany
NY

It says in part....

List of Goods sent from York and received from Monsr Jan Hendricksen
Brujn and Johannes Proofoost to be distributed amoung the Refugees of
Schoonechtede, to wit--

Among those listed to receive these goods were names like: Barent Wimp
Harmen Vedder Symen Schemmerhoorn Arent Vedder Arnie Widow of Frans
Andries Bradt Isaack de Teurex Jan Eps Geertruy Groot Symen Groot Etc
Etc


And it goes on....

My question is this:
What happened at Schoonechtede that caused these people to become
refugees?

Thanks
Tom C.
Webmaster of The American Family Generations located at
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/5121
Currently with over 37,000 visitors since Nov. 1997.
Visit our free databases lisiting over 2,000 names.


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